Problem

Youclimbtheladderandstepinside.It’syourfirsttimeinyourfriend’streehouse.Ithasjustabouteverythingyoucouldwant.Exceptsnacks!“Oh,IknewIforgotsomething,”saysyour friend.


Justthen,yourfriend’sgrandmothercomesoutofthehousecarryingtwolunchbags.Buthowwillshegetthemupto you?


Solution

Grandmahasaropeandabucket.Sheswingstheropeoveratreebranch.Thenshetiestheendoftheropetothebucket handle.


Grandmaplacesthelunchbagsinthebucketandpullstheotherendoftherope.Witheachpull,thebucketgoeshigher.Soon,itreachesyou.Problem solved!

It's Simple

Grandmausedtheropeandbranchasasimplemachine. Simplemachineshelpusdowork.Theymovethingsfaster,farther,ormoreeasilythanwecanwithout them.


Simplemachineshavenomorethanafewparts.Somehavejustone part.

IntheGroove

Howcanaropeandabranchbeamachine? Together,theyformapulley.pulleyisawheel.Ithasacordwrappedaroundit.Thecordfitsinagroovearoundthewheel.Thewheelturnsasthecordispulledthroughthe groove.


Thebranchdoesn’thaveagroove.Itdoesn’tturnlikeawheel.But,theideaisthesame.Grandmapulleddownononeendoftherope.Thentheotherendmovedup.Thepulleymadeiteasiertoliftthebucket.Itchangedthedirectionofthe force.

Howto liftthingswithapulley 

1

Pulldownonthisendofthe rope.

2

Theropemovesthroughthe pulley.

3

Theloadmovesupwith thisendofthe rope.