Rope Tricks
Pulleys — change the direction, share the load
What this lesson covers
Why it matters
At the village well, you pull DOWN and the bucket comes UP. One wheel and one rope just reversed your force — and that's only the pulley's first trick.
Predict first
A single fixed pulley (like on a well) mainly helps by…
The fixed pulley is a direction-changer: your body weight helps you pull down. Add MORE rope segments and pulleys start sharing the load too.
- changing the direction — pulling down is easier than lifting up — correct
- halving the effort
- nothing — it's decoration
What you do
Try each rig on the 400 N crate — count the rope segments and watch your needed pull shrink.
Check yourself
Pulleys are used on flagpoles because…
Direction change — nobody climbs the pole. Same trick as the well.
With TWO rope segments holding a load, your pull is about…
Two ropes share the weight — each carries half, and you pull one of them.
A wheel with a rope in its groove, fixed above a well, is a…
The pulley: one of the six classic simple machines, still on duty at every well.
- you can raise the flag from the ground by pulling down — correct
- flags are heavy
- rope looks tidy
- half the load — correct
- double the load
- the same
- pulley — correct
- lever
- screw