Question

A catapult is belonging to which class of lever?
A. class 1
B. class 2
C. class 3
D. class 1 and 3 both

Answer 1

Catapults are changing in the class of lever used and how the effort will be applied. The projecting arm of the catapult will be the lever and the fulcrum is the point where the arm is fixed to the catapult and the load is the thing on which the catapult is being projected. This will help you in answering this question.

Complete answer:
A catapult for projecting a missile or a stone into a large distance will comprise a support which is known as the fulcrum at the centre. The load is the stone in this case is at one end of the log or bar. Therefore the effort in order to place the load in balance is at the other end of the log or bar. Here the arm distance between the fulcrum and the force of the effort will be adjusted so that the stone will be projected to a longer distance than otherwise. As the fulcrum is in the centre of load and effort, then it will be of class 1 lever. Catapults are changing in the class of lever used and how the effort will be applied. The projecting arm of the catapult will be the lever and the fulcrum is the point where the arm is fixed to the catapult and the load is the thing on which the catapult is being projected. Therefore the catapults commonly use class 1 or 3 levers.

The answer is given as option D.

Note:
Class 1 levers include the seesaws, crow bars, hammer claws and scissors. Nutcrackers will be an example of a second class lever. With the third class levers the effort will be between the load and the fulcrum. An example for this can be the barbecue tongs.