The pivot for this gate bolt is at the bottom. The point of action is close to the pivot - the bit that pulls the bolt back. I pulled the handle at the top. Pivot to top is FIVE TIMES the distance from pivot to bolt. Yet each must be experiencing the same turning force, the same MOMENT. Moment = force x perpendicular distance. If the distance is five times bigger, the force will be five times smaller. Put another way, whatever force I put at the top will be five times bigger at the bolt. This is a FORCE MULTIPLIER.
