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.
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- 1.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 4 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 380 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 2.🪝 More rope sections holding a load means … (a) more effort needed (b) the load floats (c) no change (d) less effort needed
- 3.🪝 A load of 810 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 4.🪝 A pulley system has 3 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 4 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 5.🪝 A pulley system has 3 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 10 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 6.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one halves the effort? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 7.🪝 What does a single fixed pulley change? (a) the colour of rope (b) the direction of pull (c) gravity (d) the size of the load
- 8.True or false: a movable pulley stays in one place. (a) True (b) False
- 9.True or false: a movable pulley halves the effort. (a) False (b) True
- 10.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one only changes direction? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 11.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one makes you pull 2× rope? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 12.🪝 A load of 160 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 13.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 15 cm turning an axle of radius 5 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 14.True or false: a fixed pulley halves the effort. (a) False (b) True
- 15.🪝 A pulley system has 2 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 2 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 16.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one stays in one place? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 17.True or false: a fixed pulley hangs on the rope loop. (a) False (b) True
- 18.True or false: a fixed pulley stays in one place. (a) False (b) True
- 19.🪝 A load of 920 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 20.🪝 A pulley system has 4 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 5 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 21.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one needs effort = load? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 22.🪝 A load of 520 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 23.🪝 A load of 330 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 24.True or false: a movable pulley is on a flagpole top. (a) False (b) True
- 25.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 24 cm and an axle of radius 3 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 720 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 26.True or false: a movable pulley rises with the load. (a) False (b) True
- 27.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one hangs on the rope loop? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 28.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 30 cm and an axle of radius 5 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 300 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 29.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 10 cm turning an axle of radius 2 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 30.🪝 A load of 480 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 31.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one rises with the load? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 32.🪝 A bucket weighing 450 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 33.🪝 A pulley system has 3 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 6 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 34.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 15 cm and an axle of radius 5 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 360 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 35.True or false: a movable pulley only changes direction. (a) True (b) False
- 36.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 18 cm turning an axle of radius 3 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 37.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 390 N load with an effort of 130 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 38.🪝 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)
- 39.🪝 A wheel and axle is a big wheel fixed to … (a) a sharp wedge (b) a smaller rod (axle) (c) a loose rope (d) a flat ramp
- 40.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 8 cm and an axle of radius 4 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts an 80 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
Answer key
- 190
- less effort needed
- 270
- 12
- 30
- a movable pulley
- the direction of pull
- False
- True
- a fixed pulley
- a movable pulley
- 40
- 3
- False
- 4
- a fixed pulley
- False
- True
- 230
- 20
- a fixed pulley
- 130
- 110
- False
- 90
- True
- a movable pulley
- 50
- 5
- 240
- a movable pulley
- 450
- 18
- 120
- False
- 6
- 3
- 140
- a smaller rod (axle)
- 40
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