What is a second-class lever?

A second-class lever is characterized by the load being positioned between the effort force and the fulcrum. This arrangement allows for a mechanical advantage, meaning that less effort is needed to move a larger load.

In practical terms, when you apply a force at one end of the lever (the effort), the lever pivots around the fulcrum, which is located at one end, while the load bears down in the middle. A common example of a second-class lever is a wheelbarrow, where the load (the contents of the wheelbarrow) is in the center, the effort is applied at the handles, and the fulcrum is the wheel at the back. This setup reduces the amount of effort required to lift the load, demonstrating the effectiveness of second-class levers in providing mechanical advantage favorably for the user.