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 pulley system has 2 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 5 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 2.True or false: a fixed pulley is on a flagpole top. (a) False (b) True
- 3.🪝 A pulley system has 4 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 2 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 4.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 24 cm and an axle of radius 4 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 660 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 5.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one only changes direction? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 6.🪝 A bucket weighing 340 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 7.🪝 What does a single fixed pulley change? (a) the colour of rope (b) the size of the load (c) gravity (d) the direction of pull
- 8.🪝 A bucket weighing 470 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 9.🪝 A load of 300 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 10.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one is on a flagpole top? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 11.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one needs effort = load? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 12.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 8 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 760 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 13.True or false: a fixed pulley needs effort = load. (a) True (b) False
- 14.🪝 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)
- 15.🪝 A pulley system has 4 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 9 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 16.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one halves the effort? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 17.True or false: a fixed pulley only changes direction. (a) True (b) False
- 18.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one makes you pull 2× rope? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 19.🪝 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)
- 20.🪝 A load of 320 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 21.🪝 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)
- 22.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 20 cm and an axle of radius 5 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 160 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 23.True or false: a movable pulley only changes direction. (a) True (b) False
- 24.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one stays in one place? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 25.🪝 A pulley system has 2 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 8 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 26.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one hangs on the rope loop? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 27.True or false: a movable pulley is on a flagpole top. (a) True (b) False
- 28.True or false: a movable pulley needs effort = load. (a) True (b) False
- 29.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 15 cm and an axle of radius 3 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 400 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 30.🪝 A wheel and axle is a big wheel fixed to … (a) a sharp wedge (b) a flat ramp (c) a smaller rod (axle) (d) a loose rope
- 31.🪝 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?
- 32.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 210 N load with an effort of 70 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 33.🪝 A load of 200 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 34.🪝 A pulley system has 3 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 2 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 35.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 30 cm and an axle of radius 5 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 480 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 36.🪝 A pulley system has 2 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 3 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 37.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 15 cm turning an axle of radius 5 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 38.🪝 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)
- 39.True or false: a fixed pulley makes you pull 2× rope. (a) True (b) False
- 40.True or false: a movable pulley makes you pull 2× rope. (a) True (b) False
Answer key
- 10
- True
- 8
- 110
- a fixed pulley
- 340
- the direction of pull
- 470
- 150
- a fixed pulley
- a fixed pulley
- 190
- True
- 80
- 36
- a movable pulley
- True
- a movable pulley
- 360
- 160
- 170
- 40
- False
- a fixed pulley
- 16
- a movable pulley
- False
- False
- 80
- a smaller rod (axle)
- 4
- 3
- 50
- 6
- 80
- 6
- 3
- 120
- False
- True
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