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 stays in one place? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 2.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 540 N load with an effort of 180 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 3.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 15 cm turning an axle of radius 3 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 4.🪝 A wheel and axle is a big wheel fixed to … (a) a loose rope (b) a sharp wedge (c) a smaller rod (axle) (d) a flat ramp
- 5.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 32 cm turning an axle of radius 4 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 6.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 9 cm and an axle of radius 3 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 450 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 7.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 16 cm turning an axle of radius 2 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 8.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one is on a flagpole top? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 9.🪝 A bucket weighing 440 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 10.True or false: a fixed pulley is on a flagpole top. (a) False (b) True
- 11.True or false: a movable pulley is on a flagpole top. (a) False (b) True
- 12.True or false: a movable pulley stays in one place. (a) False (b) True
- 13.🪝 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)
- 14.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one makes you pull 2× rope? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 15.🪝 A load of 60 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 16.True or false: a fixed pulley hangs on the rope loop. (a) False (b) True
- 17.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 14 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 1050 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 18.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one halves the effort? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 19.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one hangs on the rope loop? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 20.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 240 N load with an effort of 120 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 21.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 200 N load with an effort of 50 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 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.🪝 A load of 680 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 24.🪝 A load of 720 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 25.🪝 A bucket weighing 70 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 26.🪝 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?
- 27.🪝 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?
- 28.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 450 N load with an effort of 150 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 29.🪝 What does a single fixed pulley change? (a) the colour of rope (b) the direction of pull (c) the size of the load (d) gravity
- 30.🪝 A pulley system has 2 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 7 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 31.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one rises with the load? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 32.True or false: a movable pulley hangs on the rope loop. (a) False (b) True
- 33.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 40 N load with an effort of 20 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 34.🪝 More rope sections holding a load means … (a) more effort needed (b) no change (c) the load floats (d) less effort needed
- 35.🪝 A load of 840 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 36.True or false: a fixed pulley stays in one place. (a) True (b) False
- 37.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 60 N load with an effort of 30 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 38.🪝 A pulley system has 1 rope section holding up the load. To lift the load by 1 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 39.🪝 A bucket weighing 150 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 winch has a wheel of radius 20 cm and an axle of radius 4 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 450 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
Answer key
- a fixed pulley
- 3
- 5
- a smaller rod (axle)
- 8
- 150
- 8
- a fixed pulley
- 440
- True
- False
- False
- 200
- a movable pulley
- 20
- False
- 150
- a movable pulley
- a movable pulley
- 2
- 4
- 480
- 170
- 240
- 70
- 10
- 12
- 3
- the direction of pull
- 14
- a movable pulley
- True
- 2
- less effort needed
- 210
- True
- 2
- 1
- 150
- 90
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