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The mighty mathematics of the lever - Andy Peterson and Zack Patterson

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13,889 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

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Archimedes once said “Give me a place to stand, and I shall move the Earth.” While the idea of a person moving such a huge mass on their own might sound impossible, chances are you’ve seen this idea in action at your local playground. Andy Peterson and Zack Patterson use the seesaw to illustrate the amazing implications and uses of the lever.

How far from the fulcrum on the effort arm would you have to place a 5 kg weight in order to balance a 10 kg weight that is 3 meters from the fulcrum?

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Andy Peterson, Zack Patterson
  • Director Nadav Arbel
  • Artist Moran Barak
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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