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 load of 320 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 2.True or false: a fixed pulley halves the effort. (a) True (b) False
- 3.🪝 More rope sections holding a load means … (a) the load floats (b) no change (c) less effort needed (d) more effort needed
- 4.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one is on a flagpole top? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 5.🪝 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?
- 6.🪝 A bucket weighing 310 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 7.🪝 A load of 390 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 8.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one rises with the load? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 9.True or false: a movable pulley halves the effort. (a) False (b) True
- 10.🪝 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)
- 11.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one hangs on the rope loop? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 12.🪝 A bucket weighing 290 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 hangs on the rope loop. (a) False (b) True
- 14.🪝 A pulley system has 1 rope section holding up the load. To lift the load by 9 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 15.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 12 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 1020 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 16.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one only changes direction? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 17.True or false: a fixed pulley makes you pull 2× rope. (a) False (b) True
- 18.🪝 What does a single fixed pulley change? (a) gravity (b) the size of the load (c) the direction of pull (d) the colour of rope
- 19.🪝 A wheel and axle is a big wheel fixed to … (a) a smaller rod (axle) (b) a flat ramp (c) a sharp wedge (d) a loose rope
- 20.🪝 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)
- 21.🪝 A load of 600 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 22.🪝 A load of 60 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 23.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 15 cm and an axle of radius 3 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 350 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 24.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one halves the effort? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 25.🪝 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)
- 26.True or false: a movable pulley is on a flagpole top. (a) False (b) True
- 27.🪝 A load of 900 N hangs from a pulley system in which 3 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 28.True or false: a fixed pulley hangs on the rope loop. (a) False (b) True
- 29.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 6 cm and an axle of radius 3 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 300 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 30.🪝 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)
- 31.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 1160 N load with an effort of 290 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 32.True or false: a fixed pulley needs effort = load. (a) True (b) False
- 33.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one makes you pull 2× rope? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 34.🪝 A pulley system has 1 rope section holding up the load. To lift the load by 5 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 35.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 8 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 160 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 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.True or false: a movable pulley only changes direction. (a) False (b) True
- 38.🪝 A load of 340 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 39.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one needs effort = load? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 40.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 30 cm turning an axle of radius 5 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
Answer key
- 160
- False
- less effort needed
- a fixed pulley
- 1
- 310
- 130
- a movable pulley
- True
- 380
- a movable pulley
- 290
- True
- 9
- 170
- a fixed pulley
- False
- the direction of pull
- a smaller rod (axle)
- 40
- 200
- 20
- 70
- a movable pulley
- 490
- False
- 300
- False
- 150
- 140
- 4
- True
- a movable pulley
- 5
- 40
- 410
- False
- 170
- a fixed pulley
- 6
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