2. A lever is a rigid rod pivoted at a certain point called the fulcrum. Fig. 12-1 shows the most familiar type of lever, with a load at one end being balanced by an applied force at the other. The condition for equilibrium is that the torques produced by Fin and Fout be the same in magnitude.2. A lever is a rigid rod pivoted at a certain point called the fulcrum. Fig. 12-1 shows the most familiar type of lever, with a load at one end being balanced by an applied force at the other. The condition for equilibrium is that the torques produced by Fin and Fout be the same in magnitude