The Joule (J) is the standard unit of energy and has the unit \({kg \times m^2} \over s^2\).

Because this lever is in equilibrium, we know that the effort force at the blue arrow is equal to the resistance weight of the green box. For a lever that's in equilibrium, one method of calculating mechanical advantage (MA) is to divide the length of the effort arm (E_a) by the length of the resistance arm (R_a):

MA = \( \frac{E_a}{R_a} \) = \( \frac{2 ft.}{5 ft.} \) = 0.4

When a lever is in equilibrium, the torque from the effort and the resistance are equal. The equation for equilibrium is R_ad_a = R_bd_b where a and b are the two points at which effort/resistance is being applied to the lever.

In this problem, R_a and R_b are such that the lever is in equilibrium meaning that some multiple of the weight of the green box is being applied at the blue arrow. For a lever, this multiple is a function of the ratio of the distances of the box and the arrow from the fulcrum. That's why, for a lever in equilibrium, only the distances from the fulcrum are necessary to calculate mechanical advantage.

If the lever were not in equilibrium, you would first have to calculate the forces and distances necessary to put it in equilibrium and then divide E_a by R_a to get the mechanical advantage.

Mechanical advantage (MA) can be calculated knowing only the distance the effort (blue arrow) moves and the distance the resistance (green box) moves. The equation is:

MA = \( \frac{E_d}{R_d} \)

where E_d is the effort distance and R_d is the resistance distance. For this problem, the equation becomes:

MA = \( \frac{3 ft.}{0.38 ft.} \) = 8

You might be wondering how having an effort distance of 8 times the resistance distance is an advantage. Remember the principle of moments. For a lever in equilibrium the effort torque equals the resistance torque. Because torque is force x distance, if the effort distance is 8 times the resistance distance, the effort force must be \( \frac{1}{8} \) the resistance force. You're trading moving 8 times the distance for only having to use \( \frac{1}{8} \) the force.

A third class lever is designed to multiply distance and speed at the expense of effort force. Because the effort force is greater than the resistance, the mechanical advantage of a third class lever is always less than one.

An example of a third class lever is a broom. The fulcrum is at your hand on the end of the broom, the effort force is your other hand in the middle, and the resistance is at the bottom bristles. The effort force of your hand in the middle multiplies the distance and speed of the bristles at the bottom but at the expense of producing a brushing force that's less than the force you're applying with your hand.

For any given surface, the coefficient of static friction is higher than the coefficient of kinetic friction. More force is required to initally get an object moving than is required to keep it moving. Additionally, static friction only arises in response to an attempt to move an object (overcome the normal force between it and the surface).