Student Exploration: Pulleys Gizmos
Answers
Microelectronic Devices & Circuits (Berkeley College)
, Name: Charles Oh Date: 5/28/21
Student Exploration: Pulleys
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: effort, load, mechanical advantage, pulley, pulley system
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. Suppose you had to haul a heavy bucket of water from a deep well. Which way do you think would be
easiest for lifting the bucket? Highlight your answer.
a. One person lifting the bucket.
b. Two people lifting the bucket.
c. Four people lifting the bucket.
d. One person using a pulley system to lift the bucket.
2. Why did you choose the answer you chose? Strength can be adjusted to fit the bucket of water. 1
force involved, so it is more controlled. Can reach deeper into the deep well.
Gizmo Warm-up: Lifting a piano
A pulley is a simple machine that is used to lift heavy objects. A
pulley is a wheel with a groove for a rope. Pulling down on one end of
the rope causes the other end to pull up.
1. In the Object to lift menu choose Piano . What is the weight of the
piano? This is the load on the pulley.
Piano weight: 4000 newtons (N).
2. You can drag people over to the rope to try to lift the piano. Each person
pulls with an effort of 200 newtons.
Are six people strong enough to lift the piano? No
3. You can change the number of pulleys using the Pulley type menu.
Fixed pulleys are attached to the building and do not move. Moveable
pulleys are attached to the object that is being lifted. Try different
combinations until you lift the piano.
A. What type of pulley system did you use? 2 fixed, 2 moveable
B. How many people did it take to lift the piano using that system? 6
Answers
Microelectronic Devices & Circuits (Berkeley College)
, Name: Charles Oh Date: 5/28/21
Student Exploration: Pulleys
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: effort, load, mechanical advantage, pulley, pulley system
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. Suppose you had to haul a heavy bucket of water from a deep well. Which way do you think would be
easiest for lifting the bucket? Highlight your answer.
a. One person lifting the bucket.
b. Two people lifting the bucket.
c. Four people lifting the bucket.
d. One person using a pulley system to lift the bucket.
2. Why did you choose the answer you chose? Strength can be adjusted to fit the bucket of water. 1
force involved, so it is more controlled. Can reach deeper into the deep well.
Gizmo Warm-up: Lifting a piano
A pulley is a simple machine that is used to lift heavy objects. A
pulley is a wheel with a groove for a rope. Pulling down on one end of
the rope causes the other end to pull up.
1. In the Object to lift menu choose Piano . What is the weight of the
piano? This is the load on the pulley.
Piano weight: 4000 newtons (N).
2. You can drag people over to the rope to try to lift the piano. Each person
pulls with an effort of 200 newtons.
Are six people strong enough to lift the piano? No
3. You can change the number of pulleys using the Pulley type menu.
Fixed pulleys are attached to the building and do not move. Moveable
pulleys are attached to the object that is being lifted. Try different
combinations until you lift the piano.
A. What type of pulley system did you use? 2 fixed, 2 moveable
B. How many people did it take to lift the piano using that system? 6
