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.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 14 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 560 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 2.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 6 cm turning an axle of radius 1 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 3.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one hangs on the rope loop? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 4.🪝 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)
- 5.True or false: a fixed pulley hangs on the rope loop. (a) False (b) True
- 6.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 660 N load with an effort of 220 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 7.🪝 More rope sections holding a load means … (a) more effort needed (b) less effort needed (c) no change (d) the load floats
- 8.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one makes you pull 2× rope? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 9.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 24 cm turning an axle of radius 3 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 10.True or false: a movable pulley is on a flagpole top. (a) True (b) False
- 11.🪝 What does a single fixed pulley change? (a) the colour of rope (b) the direction of pull (c) gravity (d) the size of the load
- 12.🪝 A bucket weighing 50 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 13.True or false: a movable pulley needs effort = load. (a) True (b) False
- 14.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 340 N load with an effort of 170 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 15.🪝 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
- 16.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 8 cm and an axle of radius 1 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 640 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 17.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 1120 N load with an effort of 280 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 18.True or false: a movable pulley only changes direction. (a) True (b) False
- 19.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one needs effort = load? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 20.🪝 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)
- 21.🪝 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?
- 22.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 10 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 150 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 23.True or false: a movable pulley halves the effort. (a) False (b) True
- 24.🪝 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)
- 25.🪝 A load of 280 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 26.🪝 A bucket weighing 40 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 27.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 60 N load with an effort of 20 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 28.🪝 A pulley system has 4 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 5 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 29.True or false: a fixed pulley is on a flagpole top. (a) False (b) True
- 30.True or false: a movable pulley hangs on the rope loop. (a) False (b) True
- 31.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 12 cm turning an axle of radius 3 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 32.🪝 A load of 80 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 33.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 28 cm and an axle of radius 4 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 140 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 34.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 400 N load with an effort of 200 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 35.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 12 cm turning an axle of radius 4 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 36.🪝 A pulley system has 3 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 7 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 37.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 3 cm and an axle of radius 1 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 420 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 38.🪝 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)
- 39.🪝 A pulley system has 4 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 8 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 40.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 2 cm and an axle of radius 1 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 340 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
Answer key
- 80
- 6
- a movable pulley
- 20
- False
- 3
- less effort needed
- a movable pulley
- 8
- False
- the direction of pull
- 50
- False
- 2
- a smaller rod (axle)
- 80
- 4
- False
- a fixed pulley
- 150
- 30
- 30
- True
- 130
- 70
- 40
- 3
- 20
- True
- True
- 4
- 20
- 20
- 2
- 3
- 21
- 140
- 60
- 32
- 170
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