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.🪝 What does a single fixed pulley change? (a) the direction of pull (b) the size of the load (c) the colour of rope (d) gravity
- 2.True or false: a movable pulley needs effort = load. (a) True (b) False
- 3.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 20 cm turning an axle of radius 4 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 4.🪝 A load of 380 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 5.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one hangs on the rope loop? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 6.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 360 N load with an effort of 90 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 7.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 6 cm turning an axle of radius 3 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 8.True or false: a fixed pulley halves the effort. (a) True (b) False
- 9.True or false: a fixed pulley only changes direction. (a) True (b) False
- 10.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one rises with the load? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 11.🪝 More rope sections holding a load means … (a) the load floats (b) more effort needed (c) less effort needed (d) no change
- 12.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one stays in one place? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 13.🪝 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)
- 14.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one makes you pull 2× rope? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 15.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 600 N load with an effort of 300 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 16.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 35 cm and an axle of radius 5 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 210 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 17.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 10 cm and an axle of radius 5 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 260 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 18.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 21 cm and an axle of radius 3 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 1400 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 19.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 120 N load with an effort of 30 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 20.🪝 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)
- 21.🪝 A load of 400 N hangs from a pulley system in which 4 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 22.🪝 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)
- 23.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 8 cm and an axle of radius 1 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts an 880 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 24.True or false: a fixed pulley stays in one place. (a) True (b) False
- 25.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 90 N load with an effort of 30 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 26.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one is on a flagpole top? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 27.True or false: a movable pulley only changes direction. (a) False (b) True
- 28.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 200 N load with an effort of 100 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 29.🪝 A wheel and axle is a big wheel fixed to … (a) a smaller rod (axle) (b) a sharp wedge (c) a flat ramp (d) a loose rope
- 30.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 920 N load with an effort of 230 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 31.🪝 A pulley system has 3 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 1 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 32.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 9 cm and an axle of radius 3 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 210 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 33.🪝 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)
- 34.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 600 N load with an effort of 150 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 35.🪝 A load of 460 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 36.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one only changes direction? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 37.🪝 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)
- 38.🪝 A load of 280 N hangs from a pulley system in which 2 rope sections hold up the load. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulleys)
- 39.🪝 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?
- 40.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 8 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 440 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
Answer key
- the direction of pull
- False
- 5
- 190
- a movable pulley
- 4
- 2
- False
- True
- a movable pulley
- less effort needed
- a fixed pulley
- 50
- a movable pulley
- 2
- 30
- 130
- 200
- 4
- 240
- 100
- 180
- 110
- True
- 3
- a fixed pulley
- False
- 2
- a smaller rod (axle)
- 4
- 3
- 70
- 310
- 4
- 230
- a fixed pulley
- 440
- 140
- 27
- 110
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