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 lifts a 540 N load with an effort of 180 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 2.🪝 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)
- 3.True or false: a fixed pulley only changes direction. (a) True (b) False
- 4.🪝 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
- 5.True or false: a movable pulley stays in one place. (a) True (b) False
- 6.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 520 N load with an effort of 130 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 7.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 6 cm and an axle of radius 1 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 1080 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 8.True or false: a fixed pulley hangs on the rope loop. (a) False (b) True
- 9.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 20 cm and an axle of radius 4 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 1000 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 10.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 6 cm turning an axle of radius 2 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 11.🪝 A load of 570 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 12.🪝 A wheel and axle is a big wheel fixed to … (a) a smaller rod (axle) (b) a flat ramp (c) a loose rope (d) a sharp wedge
- 13.🪝 A pulley system has 1 rope section holding up the load. To lift the load by 8 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 14.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one makes you pull 2× rope? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 15.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 24 cm and an axle of radius 3 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 1040 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 16.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 4 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 220 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 17.🪝 A load of 870 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 18.🪝 A load of 440 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 19.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one only changes direction? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 20.🪝 A load of 540 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 21.True or false: a movable pulley makes you pull 2× rope. (a) False (b) True
- 22.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one is on a flagpole top? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 23.🪝 A pulley system has 3 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 5 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 24.🪝 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?
- 25.🪝 A load of 420 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 26.True or false: a fixed pulley is on a flagpole top. (a) True (b) False
- 27.🪝 A pulley system has 1 rope section holding up the load. To lift the load by 9 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 28.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one stays in one place? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 29.True or false: a fixed pulley needs effort = load. (a) True (b) False
- 30.🪝 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)
- 31.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 6 cm turning an axle of radius 1 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 32.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 16 cm turning an axle of radius 4 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 33.🪝 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)
- 34.🪝 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)
- 35.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 32 cm turning an axle of radius 4 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 36.🪝 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?
- 37.🪝 A load of 460 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 38.🪝 A pulley system has 1 rope section holding up the load. To lift the load by 6 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 39.🪝 A load of 380 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 40.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one rises with the load? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
Answer key
- 3
- 350
- True
- the direction of pull
- False
- 4
- 180
- False
- 200
- 3
- 190
- a smaller rod (axle)
- 8
- a movable pulley
- 130
- 110
- 290
- 110
- a fixed pulley
- 270
- True
- a fixed pulley
- 15
- 20
- 210
- True
- 9
- a fixed pulley
- True
- 210
- 6
- 4
- 230
- 80
- 8
- 18
- 230
- 6
- 190
- a movable pulley
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