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Pulleys, Gears, and Levers Flashcards

7 cards from real FCTC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Pulleys, Gears, and Levers flashcards as text

  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)?

    Answer: 50 lbs

    With 4 supporting rope segments, the mechanical advantage is 4, so force = 200 ÷ 4 = 50 lbs.

  2. Which class of lever has the fulcrum located between the effort and the load?

    Answer: First-class lever

    A first-class lever has the fulcrum between the effort and load, like a seesaw or crowbar.

  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?

    Answer: 30 RPM

    Gear ratio = 60/20 = 3, so the larger gear turns at 90 ÷ 3 = 30 RPM.

  4. A wheelbarrow is an example of which class of lever?

    Answer: Second-class

    A wheelbarrow is a second-class lever because the load sits between the fulcrum (wheel) and the effort (handles).

  5. What happens to the speed of a driven gear when it has more teeth than the driving gear?

    Answer: Speed decreases

    A driven gear with more teeth rotates slower than the driving gear because the gear ratio reduces the output speed.

  6. A fixed pulley attached to the ceiling changes which of the following?

    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.

  7. A lever arm is 6 feet long with the fulcrum 2 feet from the load end. What is the mechanical advantage?

    Answer: 2

    Mechanical advantage = effort arm / load arm = 4 ft / 2 ft = 2.

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