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.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one only changes direction? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 3.🪝 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)
- 4.🪝 A pulley system has 1 rope section holding up the load. To lift the load by 6 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 5.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one is on a flagpole top? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 6.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 16 cm turning an axle of radius 4 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 7.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 40 cm and an axle of radius 5 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 320 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 8.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one stays in one place? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 9.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 20 cm and an axle of radius 5 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 640 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 10.True or false: a movable pulley needs effort = load. (a) False (b) True
- 11.🪝 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)
- 12.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 420 N load with an effort of 140 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 13.🪝 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)
- 14.🪝 A bucket weighing 250 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 15.🪝 More rope sections holding a load means … (a) more effort needed (b) no change (c) the load floats (d) less effort needed
- 16.🪝 A load of 360 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 17.🪝 A load of 150 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 18.🪝 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)
- 19.🪝 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)
- 20.True or false: a fixed pulley needs effort = load. (a) True (b) False
- 21.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 180 N load with an effort of 90 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 22.🪝 A load of 1080 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 23.🪝 What does a single fixed pulley change? (a) gravity (b) the colour of rope (c) the size of the load (d) the direction of pull
- 24.🪝 A bucket weighing 30 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 25.🪝 A wheel and axle is a big wheel fixed to … (a) a sharp wedge (b) a smaller rod (axle) (c) a flat ramp (d) a loose rope
- 26.🪝 A pulley system has 3 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 9 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 27.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one needs effort = load? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 28.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 4 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 340 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 29.🪝 A pulley system has 2 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 10 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 30.🪝 A bucket weighing 260 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 winch has a wheel of radius 10 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 350 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 32.True or false: a movable pulley hangs on the rope loop. (a) False (b) True
- 33.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one makes you pull 2× rope? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 34.True or false: a fixed pulley hangs on the rope loop. (a) True (b) False
- 35.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 120 N load with an effort of 30 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 36.🪝 A bucket weighing 340 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 lifts a 150 N load with an effort of 50 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 38.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one rises with the load? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 39.True or false: a fixed pulley is on a flagpole top. (a) False (b) True
- 40.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 16 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 1280 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
Answer key
- a movable pulley
- a fixed pulley
- 240
- 6
- a fixed pulley
- 4
- 40
- a fixed pulley
- 160
- False
- 220
- 3
- 170
- 250
- less effort needed
- 180
- 50
- 210
- 200
- True
- 2
- 270
- the direction of pull
- 30
- a smaller rod (axle)
- 27
- a fixed pulley
- 170
- 20
- 260
- 70
- True
- a movable pulley
- False
- 4
- 340
- 3
- a movable pulley
- True
- 160
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