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 load of 480 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 2.🪝 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
- 3.🪝 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)
- 4.🪝 A bucket weighing 420 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 5.🪝 A bucket weighing 60 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 6.🪝 A wheel and axle is a big wheel fixed to … (a) a loose rope (b) a sharp wedge (c) a flat ramp (d) a smaller rod (axle)
- 7.🪝 More rope sections holding a load means … (a) no change (b) the load floats (c) less effort needed (d) more effort needed
- 8.🪝 A bucket weighing 90 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 240 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 10.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 160 N load with an effort of 40 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 11.True or false: a movable pulley rises with the load. (a) False (b) True
- 12.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 12 cm turning an axle of radius 2 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 13.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one halves the effort? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 14.True or false: a fixed pulley is on a flagpole top. (a) False (b) True
- 15.True or false: a movable pulley stays in one place. (a) True (b) False
- 16.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one makes you pull 2× rope? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 17.🪝 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)
- 18.🪝 A bucket weighing 270 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 19.🪝 A pulley system has 3 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 1 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 20.🪝 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)
- 21.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 21 cm and an axle of radius 3 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 280 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 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 load of 450 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 24.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one is on a flagpole top? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 25.🪝 A bucket weighing 290 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.True or false: a movable pulley needs effort = load. (a) True (b) False
- 27.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 28 cm turning an axle of radius 4 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 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 hangs on the rope loop. (a) False (b) True
- 30.🪝 A load of 540 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 31.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one rises with the load? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 32.True or false: a fixed pulley makes you pull 2× rope. (a) True (b) False
- 33.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 5 cm and an axle of radius 1 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 200 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 34.True or false: a fixed pulley rises with the load. (a) False (b) True
- 35.🪝 A load of 750 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 36.🪝 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)
- 37.🪝 A load of 480 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 38.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 6 cm turning an axle of radius 1 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 39.🪝 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?
- 40.True or false: a movable pulley halves the effort. (a) True (b) False
Answer key
- 160
- the direction of pull
- 390
- 420
- 60
- a smaller rod (axle)
- less effort needed
- 90
- 120
- 4
- True
- 6
- a movable pulley
- True
- False
- a movable pulley
- 350
- 270
- 3
- 160
- 40
- 220
- 150
- a fixed pulley
- 290
- False
- 7
- a fixed pulley
- False
- 180
- a movable pulley
- False
- 40
- False
- 250
- 210
- 120
- 6
- 8
- True
Free engineering lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/engineering-for-kids