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.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 8 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 120 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 3.🪝 More rope sections holding a load means … (a) no change (b) less effort needed (c) more effort needed (d) the load floats
- 4.🪝 A load of 200 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 5.🪝 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)
- 6.True or false: a movable pulley stays in one place. (a) True (b) False
- 7.🪝 A pulley system has 1 rope section holding up the load. To lift the load by 3 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 8.🪝 A wheel and axle is a big wheel fixed to … (a) a smaller rod (axle) (b) a loose rope (c) a sharp wedge (d) a flat ramp
- 9.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one halves the effort? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 10.True or false: a movable pulley only changes direction. (a) False (b) True
- 11.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one makes you pull 2× rope? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 12.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 3 cm and an axle of radius 1 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 210 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 13.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 21 cm turning an axle of radius 3 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 14.True or false: a movable pulley makes you pull 2× rope. (a) False (b) True
- 15.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one rises with the load? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 16.🪝 A pulley system has 1 rope section holding up the load. To lift the load by 4 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 17.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one needs effort = load? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 18.True or false: a movable pulley needs effort = load. (a) True (b) False
- 19.🪝 A load of 1200 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 20.🪝 A bucket weighing 130 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 40 cm and an axle of radius 5 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 1600 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 22.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 220 N load with an effort of 110 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 23.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 32 cm turning an axle of radius 4 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 24.True or false: a fixed pulley needs effort = load. (a) False (b) True
- 25.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one stays in one place? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 26.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 14 cm turning an axle of radius 2 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 27.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 12 cm turning an axle of radius 2 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 28.🪝 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)
- 29.🪝 A pulley system lifts an 80 N load with an effort of 20 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 30.🪝 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)
- 31.🪝 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)
- 32.🪝 A pulley system has 4 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 9 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 33.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one is on a flagpole top? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 34.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 20 cm turning an axle of radius 5 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 35.🪝 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
- 36.🪝 A bucket weighing 410 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 pulley system has 3 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 2 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 38.True or false: a fixed pulley is on a flagpole top. (a) True (b) False
- 39.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 280 N load with an effort of 70 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 40.True or false: a fixed pulley stays in one place. (a) False (b) True
Answer key
- a movable pulley
- 30
- less effort needed
- 50
- 440
- False
- 3
- a smaller rod (axle)
- a movable pulley
- False
- a movable pulley
- 70
- 7
- True
- a movable pulley
- 4
- a fixed pulley
- False
- 300
- 130
- 200
- 2
- 8
- True
- a fixed pulley
- 7
- 6
- 20
- 4
- 270
- 150
- 36
- a fixed pulley
- 4
- the direction of pull
- 410
- 6
- True
- 4
- True
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