Final answer:
Mechanical locks use levers, fulcrums, and torques to control the movement of a bolt or latch, providing a secure barrier against unauthorized access.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mechanical locks use a barrier arrangement of physical parts to prevent unauthorized access by controlling the movement of the bolt or latch.
These fundamental components typically include a series of levers, which are simple machines consisting of a rigid bar that pivots around a fixed point called the fulcrum.
The application of torques and the distances from the pivot point of the levers are crucial in the mechanism of these locks, as they determine the mechanical advantage (MA) that allows for the secure operation of the locking mechanism.