If a lever is 6 feet long and the fulcrum is six inches from a 500 N boulder, how many newtons of force would be needed to life the boulder?
To calculate the force needed to lift the boulder using a lever, we can apply the principle of the lever formula: force1 × distance1 = force2 × distance2.
Let's break it down step by step:
First, let's assign variables to the given values:
- Length of the lever (distance1) = 6 feet = 6 * 12 inches = 72 inches
- Distance from the fulcrum to the boulder (distance2) = 6 inches
- Force applied at the boulder end (force2) = 500 Newtons
- Force needed to lift the boulder (force1) = ?
Now, plug the values into the lever formula and solve for force1:
force1 × 72 inches = 500 Newtons × 6 inches
To solve for force1, divide both sides of the equation by 72 inches:
force1 = (500 Newtons × 6 inches) / 72 inches
force1 = 42,000 Newton-inches / 72 inches
force1 ≈ 583.33 Newtons
Therefore, approximately 583.33 Newtons of force would be needed to lift the boulder.