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.🪝 What does a single fixed pulley change? (a) gravity (b) the direction of pull (c) the colour of rope (d) the size of the load
- 2.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one stays in one place? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 3.🪝 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?
- 4.True or false: a fixed pulley stays in one place. (a) True (b) False
- 5.True or false: a movable pulley rises with the load. (a) False (b) True
- 6.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one rises with the load? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 7.🪝 More rope sections holding a load means … (a) less effort needed (b) the load floats (c) more effort needed (d) no change
- 8.True or false: a fixed pulley only changes direction. (a) False (b) True
- 9.🪝 A bucket weighing 430 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.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 5 cm turning an axle of radius 1 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 11.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one halves the effort? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 12.🪝 A load of 200 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 13.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one only changes direction? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 14.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 400 N load with an effort of 200 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 15.🪝 A bucket weighing 490 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 bucket weighing 240 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 17.True or false: a movable pulley is on a flagpole top. (a) True (b) False
- 18.True or false: a fixed pulley is on a flagpole top. (a) True (b) False
- 19.🪝 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?
- 20.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 10 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 950 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 21.🪝 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)
- 22.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 460 N load with an effort of 230 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 23.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 6 cm turning an axle of radius 3 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 24.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one needs effort = load? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 25.🪝 A load of 560 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 winch has a wheel of radius 10 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 900 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 27.🪝 A load of 560 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 28.🪝 A pulley system has 3 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 10 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 29.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 28 cm turning an axle of radius 4 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 30.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one hangs on the rope loop? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 31.🪝 A load of 120 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 32.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 100 N load with an effort of 50 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 33.🪝 A load of 440 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 34.🪝 A pulley system has 4 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 3 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 35.🪝 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?
- 36.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one makes you pull 2× rope? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 37.🪝 A wheel and axle is a big wheel fixed to … (a) a smaller rod (axle) (b) a loose rope (c) a flat ramp (d) a sharp wedge
- 38.🪝 A load of 80 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 39.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 600 N load with an effort of 300 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 40.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 420 N load with an effort of 140 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
Answer key
- the direction of pull
- a fixed pulley
- 18
- True
- True
- a movable pulley
- less effort needed
- True
- 430
- 5
- a movable pulley
- 100
- a fixed pulley
- 2
- 490
- 240
- False
- True
- 12
- 190
- 190
- 2
- 2
- a fixed pulley
- 280
- 180
- 140
- 30
- 7
- a movable pulley
- 30
- 2
- 220
- 12
- 10
- a movable pulley
- a smaller rod (axle)
- 40
- 2
- 3
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