Student Exploration Pulley Lab Answer Key !free! May 2026
To lift load 0.5 m, how much rope do you pull? A3: 2.0 m (0.5 × MA)
Why is actual MA always less than ideal MA? A: Friction in the pulleys and rope stiffness reduce efficiency. student exploration pulley lab answer key
By: The STEM Educator Team
Load = 200 N. Effort force? A2: 50 N (200 ÷ 4 = 50) To lift load 0
True or false – Adding more pulleys always increases efficiency. A4: False – Mechanical advantage increases, but friction increases, reducing efficiency. Key Concept: Compound pulleys multiply force but sacrifice distance and add friction. Comparison Table (Quick Answer Key Reference) | Pulley Type | MA (Ideal) | Effort for 100N Load | Pull distance for 1m lift | Force direction change? | |----------------------|------------|----------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------| | Single fixed | 1 | 100 N | 1 m | Yes | | Single movable | 2 | 50 N | 2 m | No (still up) | | Compound (2 pulleys) | 4 | 25 N | 4 m | Yes | | Compound (3 pulleys) | 6 | ~16.7 N | 6 m | Yes | Sample Calculation Questions (With Answers) Q: A pulley system has an actual MA of 3.5 and an ideal MA of 4. If you lift a 140 N load, what is the actual effort force? A: Actual MA = Load ÷ Actual Effort → 3.5 = 140 N ÷ Effort → Effort = 140 ÷ 3.5 = 40 N By: The STEM Educator Team Load = 200 N
Use this answer key to check your work, but more importantly, understand why the numbers appear as they do. Physics isn’t just about getting the right answer—it’s about predicting the trade-offs.
