Your interviewer will likely ask you situation- and knowledge-based questions to understand how well you are able to explain concepts to others. Be prepared for questions like this one by practicing a few possibilities ahead of time. This question describes a lever, which is a type of simple machine that creates mechanical advantage. The amount of mechanical advantage depends on the location of the fulcrum or rotation point. In this case, the fulcrum is 4 inches from the right side of a 12 inch lever, so it is 8 inches away from the left-hand side. The equation for a lever system is F1D1 F2D2, which states that the forces applied on the left-hand and right-hand side are equal when multiplied by their respective distance from the fulcrum. Mechanical advantage can be determined by dividing the applied load on the right-hand side by the force applied to the left-hand side to find the amplification of the force.
