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Leaving Cert Technology: Levers, linkages & moments

How often Levers, linkages & moments comes up on the Technology papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 7 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

OL Asked on 5 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2024.

Levers, linkages & moments, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Levers, linkages & moments.

(a)A wheelbarrow is which order of lever?
  1. First order
  2. Second order
  3. Third order
(b)A 40 N force acts 0.25 m from a pivot. What is its moment?
  1. 40.25 Nm
  2. 160 Nm
  3. 10 Nm
(c)A 600 N load is 0.5 m from a fulcrum. What effort 1.5 m from the fulcrum on the other side balances it?
  1. 200 N
  2. 300 N
  3. 1800 N
Show the answers

(a) Second order

(b) 10 Nm

(c) 200 N

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Levers, linkages & moments.

Higher Level

Asked on 7 of the last 9 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025B3c
2024A11
2023B3b
2022A12, B3b
2021A4
2019Not asked
2018Not asked
2017A5
2016A10, B2b

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Levers, linkages & moments questions

Levers, linkages & moments, 3 marks

Why does a third-class lever have an MA less than 1?

  1. The load is between effort and fulcrum
  2. It has no fulcrum
  3. The effort is nearer the fulcrum than the load
Show the answer

The effort is nearer the fulcrum than the load

With the effort closer to the pivot, more effort than load is needed. The gain is speed and movement at the load, as in tweezers or a fishing rod.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 5 of the last 9 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2024.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024B3c
2023A11
2022B3a
2021A11
2019Not asked
2018Not asked
2017A11
2016Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Levers, linkages & moments questions

Levers, linkages & moments, 3 marks

Tweezers are a third-class lever. Where is the effort applied?

  1. On the far side of the load from the fulcrum
  2. On the far side of the fulcrum from the load
  3. Between the fulcrum and the load
Show the answer

Between the fulcrum and the load

In a third-class lever the effort is in the middle, as in tweezers or a fishing rod. First-class levers have the fulcrum in the middle, second-class the load.

Levers, linkages & moments, 3 marks

A spanner applies a 50 N force 0.2 m from the centre of a nut. What is the turning moment?

  1. 50.2 Nm
  2. 10 Nm
  3. 250 Nm
Show the answer

10 Nm

Moment = force × distance from the pivot = 50 × 0.2 = 10 Nm. A longer spanner gives a bigger moment for the same effort.

Levers, linkages & moments, 3 marks

A lever lifts a 400 N load with an effort of 100 N. What is its mechanical advantage?

  1. 4
  2. 0.25
  3. 300
Show the answer

4

MA = load ÷ effort = 400 ÷ 100 = 4. An MA greater than 1 means the lever magnifies force, so less effort is needed.

Other Technology topics

All of Leaving Cert Technology