Pulleys

Lift a variety of heavy objects (armchair, safe, piano) using pulleys and a rope. Systems of one, two, four, or six pulleys can be used. Up to six people can be used to pull on the rope, which adds force (effort).

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

  • Describe the parts of a pulley.
  • Demonstrate that adding pulleys decreases the effort needed to lift a given load.
  • Find the mechanical advantage of a pulley system.
  • Observe how pulleys multiply the effort force.
  • Determine how much effort is required to lift a load with a given pulley system. (Extension)
VOCABULARY:
  • effort, load, mechanical advantage, pulley, pulley system

LESSON MATERIALS: