Pulley System Mechanical Advantage
Pulley System Mechanical Advantage
A block and tackle multiplies force by the number of rope segments supporting the load — letting a small effort lift a large weight.
The mechanical advantage is MA = load/effort. where load is the weight lifted and effort the applied force.
Inputs
load := 2000 N=2000 N
effort := 500 N=500 N
Divide the load by the effort.
MA := load/effort=4
Results
A mechanical advantage of 4 means four supporting rope segments — the effort moves four times as far as the load. Friction lowers the real value slightly.
Assumptions & limitations
- Ideal (frictionless) pulleys.
- Massless rope.
- Static or slow lift.