| A | B |
| The mechanical advantage | the ratio of the load force to the effort force |
| crowbar, nutcracker, and block and tackle pulley system | have a mechanical advantage greater than one |
| crowbar being used to dislodge a boulder | magnify an effort force so that a smaller effort can be applied over a longer distance thus moving a large load a small distance |
| Inclined plane | a sloping surface, such as a ramp that can be used to alter the effort and distance involved in doing work, such as lifting loads |
| staircase, ramp, and bottom of a bath tub | Inclined plane |
| Wedge | two inclined planes joined back to back used to split things |
| axe, zipper, and knife | Wedge |
| Screw | an inclined plane wrapped around a shaft or cylinder |
| bolt, spiral staircase, wood screw, corkscrew, and screws on light bulbs | Screw |
| Wheel and axle | a larger wheel (or wheels) connected by a smaller cylinder (axle) and is fastened to the wheel so that they turn together |
| door knob, wagon, toy car, bicycle gears, and screw driver | Wheel and axle |
| Pulley | a wheel that usually has a groove around the outside edge |
| flag pole, crane, elevators, and window blinds | Pulley |
| Lever | a straight rod or board that pivots on a point known as a fulcrum |
| fulcrum | can be moved depending on the weight of the object to be lifted or the force you wish to exert |
| door on hinges, seesaw, hammer, and bottle opener | Lever |
| 1st class | crowbar, scissors |
| 2nd class | nutcracker, wheelbarrow, and doors |
| 3rd class | tennis racket and tweezers |