Pulleys

A simple machine
What is a pulley?

• A pulley is a wheel
• A pulley uses rope that goes around the pulley
in its groove
• The rope attaches to objects
• Force is applied to the other end of the rope
 Why use a pulley wheel and not just
rope looped around the beam?
• Imagine this scene without
a pulley.

• Can the hay be lifted in

some way with just rope?

• Why use a pulley wheel?

The pulley reduces the

amount of friction, making
the job easier!
1. Fixed Pulley
Pulley
Force

Rope

Fixed Pulley
• Object moves
Weight • Pulley stays in the same spot
• Force applied only on one end of the rope
2. Movable Pulley
Reaction
Force

Movable Pulley Rope

• Pulley moves along the rope
• Pulley and object move together
•Wheel supports the load Force
• Rope is attached to something
that does not move
• Reduces the force needed to move
the object
Pulley

This pulley gives mechanical

advantage Weight
More rope – More advantage

In the second picture, the weight is held by two ropes

instead of one. That means the weight is split equally
between the two ropes, so each one holds only half the
weight.
 System of Pulleys

System of Pulleys
•Has at least two wheels
•The more complex the
pulley, the more the effort
needed to move the object
decreases
•The force needed to raise this Weight
weight is ¼ the weight of the
object.
 3. Combined (double)
Pulley:
•This pulley system combines the
single fixed & single moveable and
their properties giving you both

Directional & Mechanical

Advantage

•This pulley provides directional

advantage (allows you to pull down to
lift the load)

•It also provides mechanical advantage

by using 2 rope arms (which reduces
effort needed to lift the load)
In this system, you would pull 2 times as
much rope for every unit of height you
that you want to lift the load.
 Pulleys are used to gain
mechanical advantage, trading the
amount of rope you have to pull to
lift an object for how heavy the
object can be.
Who has seen pulleys?
…Pulleys are all around us…

 Elevator

Flagpole 
 Window shades
and blinds
More examples

 Cranes 
 Sails
and
fishing
nets

+ clothes lines

+ gym training equipment

+ rock climbing gear

Why use pulleys?
• Makes lifting things easier
• Pulleys
▫ Enables us to use gravity to help us
(it is usually easier to pull down to lift something up – directional
advantage)
• Using several pulleys reduces the force
required to lift an object
▫ We have to use more rope and make the rope
go further
▫ Mechanical Advantage: More distance
traveled, but less force required
 Elevator
Pulleys
Using Gravity
• Easier to pull down than up
• Elevators use gravity
▫ Counterweight on the other
side of the cable
▫ Gravity already applying force
on counterweight
▫ Less powerful motor required

Counterweight