A lever is a rod or bar that is used to lift or move a load.
Levers also open things. A lever is usually a rigid bar that
turns around a fulcrum. (A fulcrum is the point around which a
lever turns and is supported.) A crowbar is one example of a
lever that helps lift heavy objects. A seesaw is another example
of a lever. Do you have a pair of pliers at your house? Then you
have a lever. A pair of pliers is made of two levers. They are
connected at a fulcrum. You can squeeze these two levers
together to create force to help you turn a screw or do other
work. Have you ever opened a can of paint? You probably used a
lever of some kind to pry the lid open. Bottle openers are
levers, too. It would be almost impossible to get a top off of
some bottles without these handy levers! Do you have a suitcase
that rolls on wheels? That suitcase has several simple machines.
One of them is the long handle. The handle is a kind of lever
that helps balance the suitcase so it can be pushed easily. Do
you have a hammer at home?