Name: __________________________________________
Date: _____________________
Tools and Equipment, Part II Activity – Pulley Worksheet
Instructions/Questions
What is the measured weight of your object? Load (Output Force) = ___________ Newtons
A. Set up your pulley, weight and rope as shown at right. Use
string to attaché the pulley to the ceiling.
1. What is the theoretical Mechanical Advantage of this system?
Number of ropes…
MA = ___________
2. What is the required force to raise object higher?
Effort (Input Force) = ___________
3. Calculate the actual Mechanical Advantage of the pulley system
using the following equation:
MAactual =
Load
=
Effort
4. How does this compare to the theoretical MA from above?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
B. Support your load according to the pulley setup shown at right.
1. What is the theoretical Mechanical Advantage of this system?
MA = ___________
2. What is the required force to raise object higher?
Effort = ___________
3. Calculate the actual Mechanical Advantage of the pulley system
using the following equation:
MAactual =
Load
=
Effort
4. How does this compare to the theoretical MA from above?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Simple Machines: Lesson 3, Tools and Equipment, Part II – Pulley Worksheet
1
Name: __________________________________________
Date: _____________________
C. Add another pulley to your system as shown to the right.
1. What is the theoretical Mechanical Advantage of this system?
MA = ___________
2. What is the required force to raise object higher?
Effort = ___________
3. Calculate the actual Mechanical Advantage of the pulley system
using the following equation:
Load
MAactual =
=
Effort
4. How does this compare to the theoretical MA from above?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Discussion
1. Why do you think the theoretical advantage was different than the actual mechanical
advantage?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Simple Machines: Lesson 3, Tools and Equipment, Part II – Pulley Worksheet
2