ASVAB Practice

Pulleys

A wheel with a groove for a rope. Pulleys redirect force and can multiply it.

  • Fixed pulley: Attached to ceiling. Changes direction only. MA = 1.
  • Movable pulley: Attached to the load. Two rope segments support the load. MA = 2.
  • Compound (block and tackle): Multiple pulleys. MA = number of rope segments supporting the load.
  • 3 segments: MA = 3 (lift 300 N with 100 N, but must pull 3 m of rope per 1 m load rises)
  • 4 segments: MA = 4

Other concepts in Mechanical Comprehension