Levers

 E                                      L

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Think of a pair of scissors. The effort is at the handles, the pivot is the pin in the middle and the load is at the end of the scissors.

EXAMPLE: Throwing the javelin. The effort is the triceps. The pivot is the elbow and the load is the javelin. 

This lever is used to increase the speed of an object.

                       L                    E 

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P                  

Think of lifting a wheel barrow. The pivot is the wheel. The load is the wheelbarrow and the effort is you.  

EXAMPLE: Jumping. The gastrocnemius provides the effort. The ball of the foot is the pivot and the body is the load.

This lever can be used to overcome heavy loads.                

                    E                     L

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P

Think of a pair of tweezers. The pivot is the joined bit at the end. The effort is the pinching in the middle and the load is the open bit at the end. 

EXAMPLE: Upward phase of a Bicep curl. The biceps are the effort. The elbow is the pivot and the weight is the load.

This lever is used for increasing speed or distance.