Levers are simple machines that allow you to lift a specific weight (a Load) a specific distance by changing the force of the Effort and the distance the Effort has to travel.

OR

You can pick up something heavy with something light but the "something light" will travel farther than the "something heavy".

Each lever contains a rigid beam pivoting on a Fulcrum. The locations of the Effort that you supply, the Load you are moving, and the Fulcrum depends on the type of lever.

A simple way to remember the locations of the Effort, Fulcrum, and Load for a Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 lever are:

Effel the Elf Fell

(EFL the ELF FEL)

E=Effort

F=Fulcrum

L=Load