Where does this come from, and can I check it?

The pivot sits between the handle and the cutting edge on each blade. The figure is taken from Encyclopaedia Britannica, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

Is this really a everyday life fact?

Yes. It sits on the Everyday Life shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

What else can I read about it?

The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.

Mondo Knows Facts

Scissors work as a pair of class one levers

The pivot sits between the handle and the cutting edge on each blade Each blade turns about a rivet or screw that acts as the fulcrum, with the handle on one side and the edge on the other, which is the definition of a class one lever. The bevel behind the edge wedges material apart while the two edges shear past each other. A loose pivot lets the blades slide apart instead of cutting, which is why cheap scissors tear paper. It sits in Mondo's everyday life collection, one of 200 facts that each trace back to the reference below.

Where this comes from

Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts that can change over time are reviewed and updated. If something here looks wrong, Mondo would rather know than be confidently incorrect.

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Tags: tools, levers, cutting

Scissors work as a pair of class one levers: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: The pivot sits between the handle and the cutting edge on each blade. The figure is taken from Encyclopaedia Britannica, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a everyday life fact?: Yes. It sits on the Everyday Life shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.