WTMA Levers, Pulleys, and Gears 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A lever has a 200 lb load placed 2 feet from the fulcrum. How much effort is needed 8 feet from the fulcrum on the other side?
- 25 lb
- 50 lb (Correct answer)
- 100 lb
- 400 lb
Correct answer: 50 lb
Using the lever equation: Effort × 8 = 200 × 2, so Effort = 400/8 = 50 lb.
Question 2: Which class of lever has the fulcrum located between the effort and the load?
- Second class
- Third class
- First class (Correct answer)
- Fourth class
Correct answer: First class
A first-class lever has the fulcrum between the effort and the load, like a seesaw.
Question 3: A block-and-tackle system uses 4 rope segments supporting the load. If the load weighs 400 lb, what is the ideal effort required?
- 400 lb
- 200 lb
- 100 lb (Correct answer)
- 50 lb
Correct answer: 100 lb
With 4 supporting rope segments, the mechanical advantage is 4, so effort = 400 ÷ 4 = 100 lb.
Question 4: Gear A has 10 teeth and meshes with Gear B, which has 40 teeth. If Gear A rotates at 120 RPM, how fast does Gear B rotate?
- 480 RPM
- 30 RPM (Correct answer)
- 12 RPM
- 60 RPM
Correct answer: 30 RPM
Speed ratio = teeth of driver ÷ teeth of driven: 120 × (10/40) = 30 RPM.
Question 5: A wheelbarrow is an example of which lever class?
- First class
- Second class (Correct answer)
- Third class
- Compound lever
Correct answer: Second class
A wheelbarrow is a second-class lever: the wheel (fulcrum) is at one end, load in the middle, and effort at the handles.
Question 6: When two meshing gears rotate, which statement is always true?
- They rotate in the same direction
- They rotate in opposite directions (Correct answer)
- The larger gear always drives the smaller
- Both rotate at the same speed
Correct answer: They rotate in opposite directions
Two directly meshing gears always rotate in opposite directions.
Question 7: A fixed pulley attached to the ceiling changes the direction of the rope but does NOT increase mechanical advantage. What is its mechanical advantage?
- 0
- 2
- 1 (Correct answer)
- 4
Correct answer: 1
A single fixed pulley has a mechanical advantage of 1 — it redirects force but does not multiply it.
WTMA Levers, Pulleys, and Gears 2
A lever has a 200 lb load placed 2 feet from the fulcrum.
How much effort is needed 8 feet from the fulcrum on the other side?