A construction worker needs to lift a heavy metal beam using a lever but has a limited length of plank. Which adjustment would allow the worker to lift the beam with the least effort if the position of the fulcrum can be changed but the plank length remains constant?
Move the fulcrum closer to the beam
For a first-class lever: Mechanical Advantage (MA) = Effort arm / Load arm.
With the plank length fixed, moving the fulcrum closer to the beam (load) shortens the load arm and lengthens the effort arm, thereby increasing the MA.
A higher MA means the same effort lifts a heavier load — or the same load requires less effort. This is why a crowbar is positioned with its fulcrum as close to the object being pried as possible.
Moving the fulcrum closer to the worker (option 2) would do the opposite: shorten the effort arm, reduce MA, and require more effort.
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