Class III levers have mechanical advantage less than one. Why are they then used?
To obtain gain in speed
In class I lever, fulcrum acts in the middle, load at one end and effort at another end.
Effort arm >, = or < load arm and mechanical advantage (MA) can be >, = or < 1.
Examples: Scissors, see-saw, hand pump.
In class II lever, the load acts in middle, fulcrum at one and effort at the other end.
Effort arm > load arm and mechanical advantage is always greater than one, hence it acts as a force multiplier.
Examples: Nutcracker, Hinged door.
In class III levers, efforts acts in middle and load and fulcrum are at the end points.
Effort arm < load arm and mechanical advantage is always less than one, but by using them we get a gain in speed, i.e. a larger movement of the load is obtained by smaller movement of effort, hence it acts as a speed multiplier.
Example: Tong, Bread knife, Foot treadle.