FCTC Pulleys, Gears, and Levers 3

Question 1

In a block and tackle system, increasing the number of pulleys primarily increases which property?

Accepted Answer

The mechanical advantage

Answer

Adding more pulleys to a block and tackle system increases mechanical advantage, allowing heavier loads to be lifted with less force.

Question 2

A gear train has a driving gear with 10 teeth and a driven gear with 40 teeth. What is the torque multiplication factor?

Accepted Answer

4

Answer

Torque multiplication equals the gear ratio = 40/10 = 4; the driven gear produces 4 times more torque.

Question 3

Which type of lever always has a mechanical advantage less than 1?

Accepted Answer

Third-class lever

Answer

Third-class levers (effort between fulcrum and load) always have a mechanical advantage less than 1 but increase speed and range of motion.

Question 4

If a movable pulley reduces the effort force by half, what is the trade-off?

Accepted Answer

The rope must be pulled twice as far

Answer

Conservation of energy requires that reducing force by half means the rope must be pulled twice the distance the load travels.

Question 5

Two interlocking gears always rotate in which manner relative to each other?

Accepted Answer

Opposite directions

Answer

When two gears mesh directly, they rotate in opposite directions; an idler gear is needed to make them spin the same way.

FCTC Test Practice Test