FCTC FCTC Test Pulleys, Gears, and Levers Questions and Answers 4

Question 1

If you double the length of the effort arm of a lever while keeping the resistance arm the same, what happens to the mechanical advantage?

Accepted Answer

It doubles

Answer

Since MA = effort arm ÷ resistance arm, doubling the effort arm doubles the mechanical advantage.

Question 2

A block-and-tackle system has 3 movable pulleys. Approximately how many rope segments support the load?

Accepted Answer

6

Answer

Each movable pulley adds 2 supporting rope segments, so 3 movable pulleys create 6 supporting segments.

Question 3

In a gear system, which gear rotates faster — the one with more teeth or fewer teeth?

Accepted Answer

Fewer teeth

Answer

The gear with fewer teeth rotates faster because fewer teeth must mesh per revolution of the larger gear.

Question 4

A pair of scissors is an example of which type of simple machine?

Accepted Answer

First-class lever

Answer

Scissors are first-class levers because the fulcrum (pivot) is between the effort (handles) and the load (blades cutting).

Question 5

A movable pulley has a mechanical advantage of 2. If the load is 300 lbs, how far must the effort rope be pulled to raise the load 1 foot?

Accepted Answer

2 feet

Answer

When MA = 2, the effort distance is twice the load distance, so you must pull 2 feet of rope to lift the load 1 foot.

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