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 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)
- 2.🪝 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?
- 3.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one stays in one place? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 4.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 16 cm turning an axle of radius 4 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 5.🪝 A bucket weighing 110 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 pulley system lifts a 640 N load with an effort of 160 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 7.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one needs effort = load? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 8.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one halves the effort? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 9.🪝 A wheel and axle is a big wheel fixed to … (a) a sharp wedge (b) a flat ramp (c) a loose rope (d) a smaller rod (axle)
- 10.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one is on a flagpole top? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 11.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one rises with the load? (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.True or false: a movable pulley stays in one place. (a) True (b) False
- 14.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 24 cm and an axle of radius 4 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 540 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 15.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 14 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 350 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 16.🪝 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)
- 17.🪝 A load of 320 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 18.🪝 What does a single fixed pulley change? (a) the colour of rope (b) gravity (c) the size of the load (d) the direction of pull
- 19.🪝 A pulley system has 1 rope section holding up the load. To lift the load by 1 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 20.True or false: a movable pulley only changes direction. (a) False (b) True
- 21.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one makes you pull 2× rope? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 22.🪝 More rope sections holding a load means … (a) no change (b) more effort needed (c) the load floats (d) less effort needed
- 23.True or false: a fixed pulley halves the effort. (a) False (b) True
- 24.🪝 A load of 330 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 25.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one hangs on the rope loop? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 26.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 6 cm turning an axle of radius 1 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 27.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 25 cm turning an axle of radius 5 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 28.True or false: a movable pulley halves the effort. (a) True (b) False
- 29.True or false: a movable pulley hangs on the rope loop. (a) False (b) True
- 30.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 20 cm turning an axle of radius 5 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 31.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one only changes direction? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 32.🪝 A bucket weighing 380 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 33.🪝 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)
- 34.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 16 cm turning an axle of radius 2 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 35.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 120 N load with an effort of 30 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 36.🪝 A pulley system has 4 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 2 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 37.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 12 cm and an axle of radius 4 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 90 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 38.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 25 cm and an axle of radius 5 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 250 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 39.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 15 cm turning an axle of radius 5 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 40.🪝 A bucket weighing 300 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
Answer key
- 90
- 30
- a fixed pulley
- 4
- 110
- 4
- a fixed pulley
- a movable pulley
- a smaller rod (axle)
- a fixed pulley
- a movable pulley
- 100
- False
- 90
- 50
- 160
- 80
- the direction of pull
- 1
- False
- a movable pulley
- less effort needed
- False
- 110
- a movable pulley
- 6
- 5
- True
- True
- 4
- a fixed pulley
- 380
- 150
- 8
- 4
- 8
- 30
- 50
- 3
- 300
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