In a class 1 lever, where are the load and effort positioned in relation to the fulcrum?

In a class 1 lever, the load and effort are positioned on opposite sides of the fulcrum. This arrangement is key to how the lever functions. The fulcrum acts as a pivot point, and by placing the load on one side and the effort on the other, a mechanical advantage is created. This allows a smaller effort to lift a larger load by increasing the distance the effort travels compared to the load. The classic example of a class 1 lever is a seesaw, where the point of balance (fulcrum) is in the center with the children (load and effort) on either end.

Positioning the load and effort on the same side would not allow the lever to function effectively, as there would be no pivot advantage to lift the load. Placing them at varying distances could occur in practice, but it is the fixed relationship of being on opposite sides that defines the mechanical principle of a class 1 lever. The idea that they are never in balance contradicts the purpose of a lever, which is to achieve balance through the correct positioning of the load and effort.