Bennett Mechanical Comprehension Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Review Guide

To achieve mechanical advantage in a lever system, the load arm (the distance from the fulcrum to the load) should be longer than the effort arm (the distance from the fulcrum to the point where effort is applied). This configuration allows a smaller input force (effort) to lift a larger load. As the load arm increases in length relative to the effort arm, the mechanical advantage increases, meaning that one can exert less effort to lift heavier weights.

When the load arm is longer, it effectively amplifies the input effort, allowing the lever to lift heavier loads with less force applied. This principle underpins the fundamental mechanics of levers and is crucial for applications in physics and engineering when designing tools or systems that require lifting or moving heavy objects efficiently.

Achieving equality in lengths between the load arm and effort arm, or making all arms equal, does not yield a mechanical advantage. In such cases, the force exerted equals the force of the load without any amplification, which is not beneficial for achieving a mechanical advantage.