Pulleys and Wheel and Axle Worksheet
Engineer's tip (Count the ropes): Fixed pulley: changes direction, effort = load. Pulley system: effort = load ÷ supporting rope sections; rope pulled = lift height × that number. Wheel and axle: MA = wheel radius ÷ axle radius; effort = load ÷ MA.
NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
- 1.True or false: a movable pulley is on a flagpole top. (a) True (b) False
- 2.🪝 What does a single fixed pulley change? (a) gravity (b) the size of the load (c) the colour of rope (d) the direction of pull
- 3.🪝 A bucket weighing 140 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 4.🪝 More rope sections holding a load means … (a) no change (b) less effort needed (c) the load floats (d) more effort needed
- 5.🪝 A bucket weighing 350 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 6.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 12 cm turning an axle of radius 2 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 7.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one rises with the load? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 8.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 560 N load with an effort of 140 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 9.True or false: a movable pulley stays in one place. (a) True (b) False
- 10.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 6 cm and an axle of radius 3 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 220 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 11.🪝 A load of 680 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 12.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 9 cm turning an axle of radius 3 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 13.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one is on a flagpole top? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 14.True or false: a fixed pulley makes you pull 2× rope. (a) True (b) False
- 15.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one makes you pull 2× rope? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 16.🪝 A pulley system has 3 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 9 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 17.True or false: a movable pulley only changes direction. (a) False (b) True
- 18.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 2 cm and an axle of radius 1 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 40 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 19.True or false: a movable pulley needs effort = load. (a) False (b) True
- 20.🪝 A load of 630 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 21.🪝 A wheel and axle is a big wheel fixed to … (a) a loose rope (b) a flat ramp (c) a sharp wedge (d) a smaller rod (axle)
- 22.🪝 A load of 900 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 23.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 24 cm and an axle of radius 3 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 240 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 24.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one halves the effort? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 25.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 6 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 450 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 26.🪝 A load of 240 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 27.🪝 A bucket weighing 280 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 28.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one needs effort = load? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 29.🪝 A load of 1000 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 30.🪝 A bucket weighing 50 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 31.🪝 A load of 340 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 32.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 380 N load with an effort of 190 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 33.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 480 N load with an effort of 160 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 34.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one stays in one place? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 35.🪝 A pulley system has 1 rope section holding up the load. To lift the load by 4 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 36.🪝 A load of 80 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 37.True or false: a fixed pulley needs effort = load. (a) False (b) True
- 38.True or false: a movable pulley makes you pull 2× rope. (a) False (b) True
- 39.🪝 A bucket weighing 80 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 40.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 7 cm turning an axle of radius 1 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
Answer key
- False
- the direction of pull
- 140
- less effort needed
- 350
- 6
- a movable pulley
- 4
- False
- 110
- 170
- 3
- a fixed pulley
- False
- a movable pulley
- 27
- False
- 20
- False
- 210
- a smaller rod (axle)
- 300
- 30
- a movable pulley
- 150
- 120
- 280
- a fixed pulley
- 250
- 50
- 170
- 2
- 3
- a fixed pulley
- 4
- 40
- True
- True
- 80
- 7
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