In a second-class lever, where is the resistance force located?

In a second-class lever, the arrangement of the components is distinct from other lever types. The defining characteristic is that the resistance force or load is located between the fulcrum and the effort force. This configuration allows the lever to amplify force effectively.

When the effort is applied at one end of the lever and the fulcrum is at the opposite end, the load is situated in the middle. This positioning provides a mechanical advantage because the effort arm (distance from the fulcrum to where the effort is applied) is longer than the load arm (distance from the fulcrum to the load), allowing a smaller effort to lift a heavier load.

This design is commonly seen in everyday tools, such as wheelbarrows, where the wheel acts as the fulcrum, the load is placed in the bucket, and the effort is applied at the handles to lift the front of the wheelbarrow. This effectiveness in lifting heavier weights with a proportionally smaller effort is what characterizes second-class levers.