The fulcrum point decides how much mechanical advantage you get.
In a see/saw the point is in the center, each side is equal.
If you move that so one side is 6 foot long, and the other 2 foot long, the longer side has a 3:1 advantage over the shorter side. It can lift the same weight with 1/3rd the effort.
The problem lies in the trade off. The longer side has to move a long distance but lifts heavier loads.
The shorter side moves a small amount to move the other side a long distance, but requires a great deal of effort.
Like most things in science, you trade effort, for volume of movement
In a see/saw the point is in the center, each side is equal.
If you move that so one side is 6 foot long, and the other 2 foot long, the longer side has a 3:1 advantage over the shorter side. It can lift the same weight with 1/3rd the effort.
The problem lies in the trade off. The longer side has to move a long distance but lifts heavier loads.
The shorter side moves a small amount to move the other side a long distance, but requires a great deal of effort.
Like most things in science, you trade effort, for volume of movement
