A hand-operated press uses a rigid lever that turns about a pivot to push a component into place. The operator applies an input force of 100 N. The input and output forces both act at right angles to the lever. The table shows two possible arrangements of the lever.
| Arrangement | Distance of input force from pivot (m) | Distance of output force from pivot (m) |
|---|---|---|
| A | 0.60 | 0.12 |
| B | 0.90 | 0.10 |
The component needs an output force of at least 700 N.
Calculate the output force for arrangement A and for arrangement B.
The output force must still act 0.12 m from the pivot, as in arrangement A, and the input force is still 100 N.
Calculate the smallest distance from the pivot at which the input force must act to give the output force the component needs.
102 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 9.2 Moments, covering 9.2.1 Rotational effects of forces and moments, 9.2.2 The principle of moments, and 9.2.3 Levers and gears. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.