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Question
The mechanical advantage of an actual pulley is less than one. Give a reason. What is the justification for using the pulley then?
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Solution
In an actual pulley due to friction, the mechanical advantage is less than 1 (i.e. the effort is more than the load).
The reason for using the pulley when its mechanical advantage is equal to 1 or less than 1 is that the pulley allows us to apply the effort downwards i.e. in a convenient direction. To raise a load directly upwards is difficult. But with the help of a pulley, the effort can be applied in the downward direction to move the load upwards. One can hang on it to make use of his own weight also in order to apply the effort.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
A pulley system with VR = 4 is used to lift a load of 175 kgf through a vertical height of 15 m. The effort required is 50 kgf in the downward direction. (g = 10 N kg-1)
Calculate:
- Distance moved by the effort
- Work done by the effort
- M.A. of the pulley system
- Efficiency of the pulley system
In a gear system, the gear ration of the driving wheel A and driven wheel B is 10:1. To rotate the driven wheel B in the direction of driving wheel A, the driving wheel A is engaged with other wheel C. what should be the gear ratio of the wheels A and C?
A pulley system has a velocity ratio 3. Draw a diagram showing the point of application and direction of load (L), effort (E) and tension (T). It lifts a load of 150 N by an effort of 60 N. Calculate its mechanical advantage. Is the pulley system ideal? Give reason.
Give a reason for the following:
In a single fixed pulley, the velocity ratio is always more than the mechanical advantage.
Fig shown a block and tackles system of pulleys used to lift a load.

(i) How many strands of tackle are supporting the load?
(ii) Draw arrows to represent tension in each stand.
(iii) What is the mechanical advantage of the system?
(iv) When load is pulled up by a distance 1 m how far does the effort end move?
A block and tackle system of pulleys has a velocity ratio of 4.
- Draw a labelled diagram of the system indicating clearly the points of application and directions of load and effort.
- What is the value of the mechanical advantage of the given pulley system if it is an ideal pulley system?
A man raises a load of 360 kgf using a block and tackle system of 3 pulleys. If the efficiency of the pulley system is 60%, what effort is applied by the man?
Complete the table.
| S. No | Types of Simple Machine | Example |
| 1. | Pulley | |
| 2. | Wheel and axle | |
| 3. | Wedge | |
| 4. | Inclined plan | |
| 5. | Lever | |
| 6. | Screw |
Name the type of single pulley that has an ideal mechanical advantage equal to 2. Draw a labelled diagram of the pulley mentioned by you.
