Force and motion
Force and Motion
Input Arm Length
The Law of the Lever states that * the input arm times the input force equals the output arm times the output force. In this experiment, the output arm is 2", the distance from the fixed pivot at 2" mark and the rubber band at the 0" mark. The output force is that exerted by the rubber band.
The input arm is the distance from the fixed pivot (2" mark) to the point at which the force is exerted. The input force is provided by the paperclips. If the input force is exerted at the 6" mark, the input arm is 6" - 2" = 4". The input arm is always 2" less than the number printed on the lever arm at the point the paper clips are hung.