Pulleys

Front

What is a pulley?

Back

A pulley is a simple machine that consists of a wheel on an axle or shaft designed to support movement and change the direction of force applied to a load.

Front

What are the two main types of pulleys?

Back

Fixed and movable pulleys.

Front

What is the ideal mechanical advantage (IMA) of a pulley system?

Back

The ideal mechanical advantage is the ratio of the load force to the effort force in a pulley system, indicating how much the system multiplies the input force.

Front

What is the formula for calculating the ideal mechanical advantage of a pulley system?

Back

IMA = Number of rope segments supporting the load.

Front

Why are pulleys never 100% efficient?

Back

Pulleys are never 100% efficient due to friction and other factors that cause energy loss.

Front

What is the effort required to lift a load of 170 newtons using a pulley system with an IMA of 2?

Back

Effort = Load / IMA = 170 N / 2 = 85 N.

Front

If a load of 650 newtons is lifted with a pulley system that has an IMA of 2, what is the effort required?

Back

Effort = Load / IMA = 650 N / 2 = 325 N.

Front

What is friction in the context of pulleys?

Back

Friction is the resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another, which affects the efficiency of pulleys.

Front

How does a fixed pulley work?

Back

A fixed pulley is attached to a structure and does not move with the load; it changes the direction of the force applied.

Front

How does a movable pulley work?

Back

A movable pulley moves with the load, providing a mechanical advantage by reducing the effort needed to lift the load.