A lever is a simple machine consisting of a solid or rigid rod pivoted at a fixed hinge called the fulcrum. The first class lever is the one that uses a fulcrum in between, and the applied force and load are at opposite ends. If we look at the diagram the first diagram shows the fulcrum in centre and load and force on each end. Load is always lifted by applying force so in the diagram E shows the force and R might be showing the load which is lifted.
