Glossary
fulcrum
The fulcrum is the fixed point a lever turns about — the pivot. Where it sits sets how much force the lever needs: closer to the load means an easier lift.
The fulcrum is the fixed point a lever turns about — the pivot. On a seesaw it is the center support, on a crowbar the edge the bar rests on, and on scissors the screw in the middle. It is the one point in a lever that does not move.
Where the fulcrum sits decides how much force the job takes. Moving it closer to the load gives your effort a longer arm and lets you lift more, which is why a long-handled jack pivoting near the load beats a short one. Moving it closer to your hand puts the load on the longer arm, and you have to push harder.
The fulcrum is also what identifies a lever's class. A first-class lever has the fulcrum between the effort and the load; a second-class lever has the load in the middle with the fulcrum at one end, like a wheelbarrow; a third-class lever has the effort in the middle, like a pair of tweezers.
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Related terms
- lever — A lever is a rigid bar that turns about a pivot called a fulcrum. A long effort arm and a short load arm let it lift far more than the force you apply.
Source: Official ASVAB — subtest descriptions (what each subtest asks) and the CAT-ASVAB scored-question counts (accessed 2026-09)