First-order lever

HOW

1. Pull each of the ropes on the stand.
2. Note the effort you have to put into lifting the weight suspended from the shorter arm of the first-order lever. The lifted stone weighs … 900 kg!

WHY

The first-order lever is one of the so-called simple machines. The base of the device is its support point. The lever is in equilibrium when the product of the weight and arm length on one side is equal to the corresponding product on the opposite side.

So when the arm on the side to which you apply force is extended, the value of the force required to balance the weight decreases. Thus, you need less effort to lift the stone.