To improve efficiency, improve the fulcrum (the point about which a lever rotates) or increase the stiffness of the board (bending decreases efficiency)

Question

Examples: ______________________________________

Answer 1

1. For a seesaw, moving the fulcrum closer to the heavier person would improve efficiency. This would allow the heavier person's weight to exert more force on their end of the seesaw, making it easier for them to lift the lighter person.

2. In a wheelbarrow, increasing the stiffness of the handles would improve efficiency. This would reduce the amount of bending or flexing in the handles when carrying a heavy load, allowing the person to exert more force and have better control over the wheelbarrow.

3. In a crowbar, moving the fulcrum closer to the object being lifted would improve efficiency. This would decrease the effort required to lift the object, as the shorter distance between the force applied and the fulcrum would result in a greater lever advantage.

4. In a pair of pliers, increasing the stiffness of the jaws or pivot point would improve efficiency. This would reduce any bending or flexing in the tool, allowing for a more effective grip and better application of force when gripping and manipulating objects.

5. In a bottle opener, improving the fulcrum by making it sharper and more defined would improve efficiency. This would provide a more focused point of rotation, making it easier to pry open bottle caps with less effort.