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.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one hangs on the rope loop? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 2.True or false: a movable pulley only changes direction. (a) True (b) False
- 3.🪝 A wheel and axle is a big wheel fixed to … (a) a flat ramp (b) a sharp wedge (c) a loose rope (d) a smaller rod (axle)
- 4.True or false: a fixed pulley needs effort = load. (a) False (b) True
- 5.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one needs effort = load? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 6.🪝 A pulley system has 1 rope section holding up the load. To lift the load by 5 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 7.🪝 More rope sections holding a load means … (a) the load floats (b) more effort needed (c) no change (d) less effort needed
- 8.🪝 A pulley system has 1 rope section holding up the load. To lift the load by 10 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 9.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one is on a flagpole top? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 10.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one makes you pull 2× rope? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 11.True or false: a movable pulley makes you pull 2× rope. (a) False (b) True
- 12.🪝 A pulley system has 4 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 10 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 13.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 6 cm and an axle of radius 1 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 1020 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 14.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one only changes direction? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 15.🪝 A bucket weighing 380 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 16.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 4 cm and an axle of radius 1 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 120 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 17.🪝 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?
- 18.🪝 A pulley system has 3 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 7 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 19.True or false: a fixed pulley stays in one place. (a) False (b) True
- 20.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 9 cm and an axle of radius 3 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 120 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 21.🪝 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)
- 22.🪝 A bucket weighing 480 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.True or false: a movable pulley halves the effort. (a) False (b) True
- 24.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 360 N load with an effort of 180 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 25.🪝 A load of 40 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 26.🪝 A bucket weighing 200 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 bucket weighing 180 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 halves the effort? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 29.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 40 cm turning an axle of radius 5 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 30.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 12 cm turning an axle of radius 4 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 31.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one stays in one place? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 32.🪝 A bucket weighing 190 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 lifts an 870 N load with an effort of 290 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 34.🪝 A load of 420 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 35.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 6 cm turning an axle of radius 1 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 36.🪝 A pulley system has 4 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 4 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 37.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 420 N load with an effort of 140 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 38.🪝 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?
- 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 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?
Answer key
- a movable pulley
- False
- a smaller rod (axle)
- True
- a fixed pulley
- 5
- less effort needed
- 10
- a fixed pulley
- a movable pulley
- True
- 40
- 170
- a fixed pulley
- 380
- 30
- 16
- 21
- True
- 40
- 230
- 480
- True
- 2
- 20
- 200
- 180
- a movable pulley
- 8
- 3
- a fixed pulley
- 190
- 3
- 140
- 6
- 16
- 3
- 12
- 80
- 8
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