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.🪝 A pulley system lifts an 880 N load with an effort of 220 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 2.True or false: a movable pulley halves the effort. (a) True (b) False
- 3.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 24 cm turning an axle of radius 4 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 4.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one stays in one place? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 5.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 16 cm turning an axle of radius 4 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 6.🪝 More rope sections holding a load means … (a) the load floats (b) no change (c) less effort needed (d) more effort needed
- 7.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 380 N load with an effort of 190 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 8.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one only changes direction? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 9.🪝 A wheel and axle is a big wheel fixed to … (a) a smaller rod (axle) (b) a sharp wedge (c) a flat ramp (d) a loose rope
- 10.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 10 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 450 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 11.🪝 A load of 1200 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 12.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one needs effort = load? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 13.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one makes you pull 2× rope? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 14.🪝 What does a single fixed pulley change? (a) gravity (b) the direction of pull (c) the colour of rope (d) the size of the load
- 15.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 4 cm turning an axle of radius 1 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 16.True or false: a fixed pulley hangs on the rope loop. (a) False (b) True
- 17.🪝 A bucket weighing 160 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 18.True or false: a movable pulley makes you pull 2× rope. (a) False (b) True
- 19.🪝 A bucket weighing 210 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 20.🪝 A bucket weighing 120 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 21.True or false: a fixed pulley needs effort = load. (a) True (b) False
- 22.🪝 A bucket weighing 220 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 23.🪝 A bucket weighing 390 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 24.🪝 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)
- 25.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 540 N load with an effort of 270 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 26.🪝 A bucket weighing 360 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 27.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 8 cm turning an axle of radius 4 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 28.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one is on a flagpole top? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 29.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 21 cm and an axle of radius 3 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 1400 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 30.🪝 A load of 100 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 31.True or false: a movable pulley stays in one place. (a) False (b) True
- 32.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 240 N load with an effort of 60 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 33.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 6 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 240 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 34.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 32 cm turning an axle of radius 4 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 35.🪝 A load of 280 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 36.🪝 A pulley system has 1 rope section holding up the load. To lift the load by 7 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 37.🪝 A load of 690 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 38.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one rises with the load? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 39.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 25 cm and an axle of radius 5 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 550 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 40.True or false: a fixed pulley is on a flagpole top. (a) True (b) False
Answer key
- 4
- True
- 6
- a fixed pulley
- 4
- less effort needed
- 2
- a fixed pulley
- a smaller rod (axle)
- 90
- 300
- a fixed pulley
- a movable pulley
- the direction of pull
- 4
- False
- 160
- True
- 210
- 120
- True
- 220
- 390
- 450
- 2
- 360
- 2
- a fixed pulley
- 200
- 50
- False
- 4
- 80
- 8
- 70
- 7
- 230
- a movable pulley
- 110
- True
Free engineering lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/engineering-for-kids