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

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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.

Rewrite the equation that models a balanced teeter-totter to demonstrate equal ratios of the length of the arms and the weights. Explain the steps you took.

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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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