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.

A gear train is two or more gears linked together. Gear trains are designed to increase or reduce the speed or torque outpout of a rotating system or change the direction of its output. The first gear in the chain is called the driver and the last gear in the chain the driven gear with the gears between them called idler gears.

Ceramics are mixtures of metallic and nonmetallic elements that withstand exteme thermal, chemical, and pressure environments. They have a high melting point, low corrosive action, and are chemically stable. Examples include rock, sand, clay, glass, brick, and porcelain.

The wedge is a moving inclined plane that is used to lift, hold, or break apart an object. A wedge converts force applied to its blunt end into force perpendicular to its inclined surface. In contrast to a stationary plane where force is applied to the object being moved, with a wedge the object is stationary and the force is being applied to the plane. Examples of a wedge include knives and chisels.

To balance this lever the torques on each side of the fulcrum must be equal. Torque is weight x distance from the fulcrum so the equation for equilibrium is:

R_ad_a = R_bd_b

Solving for d_b, our missing value, and plugging in our variables yields:

d_b = \( \frac{R_ad_a}{R_b} \) = \( \frac{50 lbs. \times 7 ft.}{65 lbs.} \) = \( \frac{350 ft⋅lb}{65 lbs.} \) = 5.38 ft.