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.
NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
- 1.True or false: a movable pulley needs effort = load. (a) True (b) False
- 2.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 24 cm and an axle of radius 4 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 240 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 3.True or false: a movable pulley halves the effort. (a) False (b) True
- 4.True or false: a movable pulley stays in one place. (a) False (b) True
- 5.🪝 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)
- 6.🪝 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)
- 7.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one stays in one place? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 8.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 260 N load with an effort of 130 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 9.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 16 cm turning an axle of radius 4 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 10.🪝 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?
- 11.True or false: a fixed pulley only changes direction. (a) False (b) True
- 12.True or false: a movable pulley only changes direction. (a) True (b) False
- 13.🪝 What does a single fixed pulley change? (a) gravity (b) the direction of pull (c) the colour of rope (d) the size of the load
- 14.🪝 More rope sections holding a load means … (a) the load floats (b) no change (c) less effort needed (d) more effort needed
- 15.🪝 A pulley system has 3 rope sections holding up the load. To lift the load by 8 m, how many metres of rope must you pull?
- 16.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 20 cm and an axle of radius 5 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 720 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 17.🪝 A wheel and axle is a big wheel fixed to … (a) a sharp wedge (b) a flat ramp (c) a smaller rod (axle) (d) a loose rope
- 18.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one halves the effort? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 19.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one rises with the load? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 20.🪝 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?
- 21.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 25 cm and an axle of radius 5 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 150 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 22.🪝 A bucket weighing 320 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 23.🪝 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)
- 24.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 9 cm and an axle of radius 3 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 180 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 25.🪝 A bucket weighing 480 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.🪝 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)
- 27.🪝 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)
- 28.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 1120 N load with an effort of 280 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 29.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 180 N load with an effort of 90 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 30.True or false: a fixed pulley makes you pull 2× rope. (a) False (b) True
- 31.🪝 A bucket weighing 280 N is lifted with a single fixed pulley at the top of a well. What effort is needed, in newtons? (ideal pulley, no friction)
- 32.True or false: a movable pulley rises with the load. (a) True (b) False
- 33.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one makes you pull 2× rope? (a) a movable pulley (b) a fixed pulley
- 34.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 24 cm turning an axle of radius 3 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 35.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 40 cm turning an axle of radius 5 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 36.🪝 A winch has a wheel of radius 6 cm and an axle of radius 2 cm. What effort on the wheel lifts a 510 N bucket on the axle, in newtons? (ideal)
- 37.🪝 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)
- 38.🪝 A well winch has a handle (wheel) of radius 12 cm turning an axle of radius 2 cm. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
- 39.🪝 Fixed or movable pulley: which one hangs on the rope loop? (a) a fixed pulley (b) a movable pulley
- 40.🪝 A pulley system lifts a 60 N load with an effort of 30 N. What is its mechanical advantage (MA)?
Answer key
- False
- 40
- True
- False
- 130
- 50
- a fixed pulley
- 2
- 4
- 5
- True
- False
- the direction of pull
- less effort needed
- 24
- 180
- a smaller rod (axle)
- a movable pulley
- a movable pulley
- 27
- 30
- 320
- 80
- 60
- 480
- 310
- 60
- 4
- 2
- False
- 280
- True
- a movable pulley
- 8
- 8
- 170
- 260
- 6
- a movable pulley
- 2
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