Using the mandible to close your mouth as you bite on food is an example of a _________ lever.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mandible acts as a third-class lever because the effort (force applied by the muscles closing the jaw) is located between the fulcrum (joint between the mandible and skull) and the load (food being bitten/chewed). In third-class levers, the effort arm is always smaller than the load arm, meaning a greater effort is required to move the load.

Using the Mandible to Close Your Mouth as You Bite