FCTC Pulleys, Gears, and Levers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A compound pulley system uses 4 rope segments supporting a load. If the load weighs 200 lbs, what force is needed to lift it (ignoring friction)?
- 25 lbs
- 50 lbs (Correct answer)
- 100 lbs
- 200 lbs
Correct answer: 50 lbs
With 4 supporting rope segments, the mechanical advantage is 4, so force = 200 ÷ 4 = 50 lbs.
Question 2: Which class of lever has the fulcrum located between the effort and the load?
- Second-class lever
- Third-class lever
- First-class lever (Correct answer)
- Fourth-class lever
Correct answer: First-class lever
A first-class lever has the fulcrum between the effort and load, like a seesaw or crowbar.
Question 3: Two meshing gears have 20 teeth and 60 teeth respectively. If the smaller gear turns at 90 RPM, how fast does the larger gear turn?
- 270 RPM
- 90 RPM
- 45 RPM
- 30 RPM (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 30 RPM
Gear ratio = 60/20 = 3, so the larger gear turns at 90 ÷ 3 = 30 RPM.
Question 4: A wheelbarrow is an example of which class of lever?
- First-class
- Second-class (Correct answer)
- Third-class
- Compound lever
Correct answer: Second-class
A wheelbarrow is a second-class lever because the load sits between the fulcrum (wheel) and the effort (handles).
Question 5: What happens to the speed of a driven gear when it has more teeth than the driving gear?
- Speed increases
- Speed decreases (Correct answer)
- Speed stays the same
- Speed doubles
Correct answer: Speed decreases
A driven gear with more teeth rotates slower than the driving gear because the gear ratio reduces the output speed.
Question 6: A fixed pulley attached to the ceiling changes which of the following?
- The amount of force needed
- The direction of the applied force (Correct answer)
- Both force and direction
- Neither force nor direction
Correct answer: The direction of the applied force
A single fixed pulley only redirects the force — you pull down to lift the load up — without reducing the required force.
Question 7: A lever arm is 6 feet long with the fulcrum 2 feet from the load end. What is the mechanical advantage?
- 2 (Correct answer)
- 3
- 4
- 6
Correct answer: 2
Mechanical advantage = effort arm / load arm = 4 ft / 2 ft = 2.
FCTC Pulleys, Gears, and Levers 2
A compound pulley system uses 4 rope segments supporting a load.
If the load weighs 200 lbs, what force is needed to lift it (ignoring friction)?