Dynamics Project Report
Mechanical Advantage
in a Pulley system
Project by:
Taimoor Sajid Mughal (230501038)
[Link] Habib (2305010280)
Abubakar Saikhu (230501076)
Hassan Nawaz (230501012)
Waleed Cheema (230501036)
Submitted to: [Link] Quraishi
Introduction
Pulleys are simple machines that utilize grooved wheels and ropes to redirect and amplify
force. They are fundamental components in various applications, from construction cranes
and elevators to sailing rigs and window blinds. This project aims to investigate the
mechanical advantage and efficiency of a pulley system through experimental analysis and
data interpretation.
Theoretical Background
• Mechanical Advantage (MA):
o Mechanical advantage quantifies the ratio of the output force (load) to the
input force (effort). It indicates how much the system amplifies the applied
force.
o Theoretical Mechanical Advantage (TMA):
▪ In an ideal frictionless system, the TMA is determined by the number
of ropes directly supporting the load.
▪ TMA = Number of ropes supporting the load.
o Actual Mechanical Advantage (AMA):
▪ The AMA considers real-world factors like friction.
▪ AMA = Load / Effort
• Efficiency:
o Efficiency measures how effectively a machine converts input work into
output work.
o Efficiency = (AMA / TMA) x 100%
o In an ideal frictionless system, efficiency would be 100%. However, in real-
world scenarios, friction and other factors reduce efficiency.
• Work and Energy:
o Work is defined as the force applied to an object multiplied by the distance it
moves in the direction of the force.
o In an ideal pulley system, the work input (effort x effort distance) should
equal the work output (load x load distance), adhering to the principle of
conservation of energy.
Materials and Equipment:
• Wooden frame
• Pulleys
• Nuts, Washers and bolts
• Screw Hooks
• Wood Screws
• Rope or cable
• Known weights
• Force meter or load cell
• Meter rule or measuring tape
Procedure
1. Attach Rope:
o Attach a rope to the top hook and run it through the pulleys with the first run
being through the right most pulley on the bottom pulley assembly and then
through the right most at the top, repeat until the rope is in run through all the
pulleys and a length of rope is left to be pulled at the other end.
2. Attach Weights:
o Attach a hanger on the bottom face hook at the bottom of the lower pulley
assembly and then hang weights on the hanger.
o Additionally, a load cell or digital weighing weighting device can also be used
instead of the weights using the same hook, but the bottom of the device is
to be secured at the base preferably using a hook like it was done in the
project.
3. Attaching a force meter:
o Attach the force meter to the free end of the rope.
o Apply a steady and consistent force to lift the load or to apply a consistent
force on the load cell at a constant speed.
o Record the effort force indicated by the force meter and the load cell if used.
4. Calculation of AMA:
o Calculate the Actual Mechanical Advantage using the formula:
▪ AMA = Load / Effort
5. Determination of TMA:
o Count the number of ropes directly supporting the load.
o The TMA is equal to this number.
6. Calculation of Efficiency:
o Calculate the efficiency of the pulley system using the formula:
▪ Efficiency = (AMA / TMA) x 100%
7. Distance and Work Measurements:
o Measure the distance of how much the load is lifted.
o Measure the distance of the rope where effort force is applied.
o Calculate the work input and work output to verify the principle of
conservation of energy.
8. Varying Load:
o Repeat the pervious step with different load weights to investigate the effect
of varying load on AMA and efficiency.
9. Different Configurations (Optional):
o This system can by modified with different pulley arrangements ( for example
2 on top 1 at the bottom, 3 at the top 4 at the bottom) and repeat the
measurements to analyze the impact on TMA, AMA, and efficiency.
Table of Results
Calculations
Experiment #1:
• DATA:
o Load = 9.81 N
o Effort = 1.4 N
o Distance moved by effort = 10 cm
o Distance moved by load = 1.3 cm
• Calculating TMA:
o There are 8 ropes that are supporting the weight.
o TMA = 8
• Calculating AMA:
o AMA = Load/Effort
o 9.81/1.4 = 7
• Calculating Efficiency:
o Efficiency = AMA/TMA x 100
o 7/8 x 100 = 87.5%
• Calculating error:
o 100 – Efficiency
o 100 – 87.5 = 12.5 %
Experiment #2:
• DATA:
o Load = 19.62 N
o Effort = 2.7 N
o Distance moved by effort = 12 cm
o Distance moved by load = 1.5 cm
• Calculating TMA:
o There are 8 ropes that are supporting the weight.
o TMA = 8
• Calculating AMA:
o AMA = Load/Effort
o 19.62/2.7 = 7.26
• Calculating Efficiency:
o Efficiency = AMA/TMA x 100
o 7.26/8 x 100 = 90.8%
• Calculating error:
o 100 – Efficiency
o 100 – 90.8 = 9.2%
Experiment #3:
• DATA:
o Load = 29.62 N
o Effort = 4.1 N
o Distance moved by effort = 9 cm
o Distance moved by load = 1.1 cm
• Calculating TMA:
o There are 8 ropes that are supporting the weight
o TMA = 8
• Calculating AMA:
o AMA = Load/Effort
o 29.62/4.1 = 7.18
• Calculating Efficiency:
o Efficiency = AMA/TMA x 100
o 7.18/8 x 100 = 89.75%
• Calculating error:
o 100 – Efficiency
o 100 – 89.75 = 10.25 %
Experiment #4:
• DATA:
o Load = 49.05 N
o Effort = 6.95 N
o Distance moved by effort = 14 cm
o Distance moved by load = 1.7 cm
• Calculating TMA:
o There are 8 ropes that are supporting the weight
o TMA = 8
• Calculating AMA:
o AMA = Load/Effort
o 49.05/6.95 = 7.05
• Calculating Efficiency:
o Efficiency = AMA/TMA x 100
o 7.05/8 x 100 = 88.125%
• Calculating error:
o 100 – Efficiency
o 100 – 88.125 = 11.875%
Data and Observations
• All measurements and calculations Should be recorded in a data table.
• Observations regarding the smoothness of pulley motion, any signs of friction (e.g.,
squeaking sounds, resistance to movement), and the overall performance of the
system were noted.
• Any discrepancies between expected and observed values were recorded and
analyzed and were calculated as errors.
Results and Analysis
• The TMA and AMA were calculated for each experiment and recorded.
• The efficiency of the pulley system was determined for each load and configuration.
• The relationship between load weight and AMA/efficiency was analyzed.
• Data was plotted graphically to visualize trends and relationships (e.g., load vs.
AMA, load vs. efficiency).
• The results were mostly linear, the difference in real life experimentation was mostly
due to human error and other factors such as friction.
Discussion
The experimental results demonstrated the effectiveness of the pulley system in reducing
the effort required to lift the load. The calculated mechanical advantage values confirmed
the force amplification provided by the system.
• Analysis of Mechanical Advantage:
o The observed AMA values generally increased with the number of supporting
ropes, as predicted by the theoretical model.
o However, the AMA values were typically lower than the TMA, indicating the
presence of friction and other real-world factors that reduce the system's
ideal performance.
• Analysis of Efficiency:
o The efficiency of the pulley system varied depending on the load and
configuration.
o Factors such as friction in the pulley bearings, the elasticity of the rope, and
the smoothness of the pulley surfaces likely contributed to the observed
efficiency values.
o The efficiency may have decreased slightly with increasing loads due to the
increased frictional forces.
Conclusion
This project successfully investigated the fundamental principles of mechanical advantage
and efficiency in a pulley system. The experimental data demonstrated the effectiveness of
pulleys in amplifying force and reducing the effort required to lift a load.
The calculated mechanical advantage values confirmed the theoretical relationship
between the number of supporting ropes and the force amplification. However, the
observed AMA values were generally lower than the TMA, highlighting the influence of real-
world factors such as friction in the pulley bearings, the elasticity of the rope, and the
smoothness of the pulley surfaces.
The efficiency of the pulley system was analyzed, and the results indicated that factors like
friction and load weight can significantly impact the system's ability to convert input work
into output work.
The project provided a valuable hands-on experience in applying scientific principles to
analyze a simple machine. It emphasized the importance of careful measurements, data
analysis, and critical thinking in scientific investigations. The findings of this project can be
applied to understand the operation of various pulley systems in everyday life, from simple
household devices to complex engineering applications.
Key takeaways from this project:
• Pulleys are effective simple machines for amplifying force and reducing effort.
• Friction and other factors can significantly impact the actual performance of a
pulley system. Careful analysis and consideration of real-world factors are crucial
for understanding the behavior of simple machines.
