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Year 10 - Physical education

Lever classification

Movement analysis and basic biomechanics

Unit Summary

This unit will explore basic principles of movement and their effect on sporting performance to include the classification of levers, planes of movement and axis of rotation. This understanding enables pupils to maximise efficiency of movement or generate more power.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to draw and label the different components of a lever system and provide examples of three types of lever in action.

Key Notes

  • In our bodies, levers are made from bones, joints, and muscles working together.
  • A lever consists of a fulcrum (joint), the effort (muscle creating the movement) and the load (weight or resistance).
  • There are three lever systems in the human body.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • lever: a rigid bar (bone) that rotates or pivots around a fixed point (fulcrum) when a force (effort) is applied to move a resistance (load)
  • fulcrum: the fixed point around which a lever pivots or rotates
  • effort: the force applied to a lever to move a load
  • load: the resistance that a lever is designed to move

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • When drawing levers the body part needs to be included.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

In our bodies, levers are made from bones, joints, and muscles working together. A lever consists of a fulcrum (joint), the effort (muscle creating the movement) and the load (weight or resistance).

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'lever'

a rigid bar (bone) that rotates or pivots around a fixed point (fulcrum) when a force (effort) is applied to move a resistance (load).

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: When drawing levers the body part needs to be included. Correction: A lever will always be drawn using four shapes.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 10 Physical education guide library.