Thinking more widely - bent levers

Physics Narrative for 11-14 Supporting Physics Teaching

Bent levers

This helps you to recognise levers at work in a wider range of contexts.

If you are careful in correctly identifying the length from the pivot to the line where the force is acting, you can design a wider variety of levers. It is not necessary for levers to be straight.

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Misconceptions

Force

appears in the relation F_mag=BILsinθ F_mag=Bqvsinθ F=k(q_1)(q_2)/r^2 F=ma W=Fd F=m(v^2)/R T=Frsinθ σ=F/A p=F/A Upthrust = Weight of Displaced Liquid F=-kx F=6πηrv F=G(m_1)(m_2)/r^2

can be represented by Force Arrows

has the special case Gravitational Force (Weight) Upthrust Friction Drag

is used in analyses relating to Equilibrium Moments Surface Tension

is a feature of the Kinetic Theory of Gases Model

Thinking more widely - bent levers

Bent levers

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Levers - Physics narrative

Other resources onForce

Misconceptions

Force

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Thinking more widely - bent levers

Bent levers

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Levers - Physics narrative

Other resources onForce

Discussion questions: forces

When the sum of the forces is zero

An external force acting

Misconceptions

Many students do not see forces as arising from an interaction between two objects

Many students are unable to identify correctly the forces acting on each object in a situation where two or more objects interact

Many students have difficulty using arrows to indicate the direction and point of action of a force

Force

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