How does a seesaw serve as a lever?

A seesaw functions as a lever because it rotates around a central fulcrum. In lever systems, the fulcrum is the pivotal point that allows the lever to move and amplify the effect of the force applied. When one person applies force on one end of the seesaw, it causes the other end to rise, effectively balancing the weights on either side around this central point. This rotational motion around the fulcrum is what characterizes levers.

The application of effort at both ends does not define how a seesaw works as a lever; rather, it's the position of the fulcrum that determines how the lever operates. Though the loads can be distributed evenly, this concept pertains more to the balance of forces rather than the mechanism of a lever itself. Additionally, while multiple machines can be designed to include levers, the seesaw's primary function is not dependent on being a complex machine, but rather on its operation as a simple lever around a fulcrum.