An illustration shows a system of two pulleys lifting a block.
Lifting the weight without a pulley requires a force of 400 newtons over a distance of 4 meters. How do these values change when the pulley is applied?
(1 point)
Responses
The force decreases, while the distance increases.
The force decreases, while the distance increases.
Both the force and the distance increase.
Both the force and the distance increase.
The force increases, while the distance decreases.
The force increases, while the distance decreases.
Both the force and the distance decrease.
1 answer
In a pulley system, the mechanical advantage allows you to lift a weight with less force than you would need to lift it directly. When using a pulley, the force required to lift the weight decreases because the pulley changes the direction of the force and potentially allows for a better allocation of effort. However, to lift the weight the same distance, you may need to pull the rope a longer distance.
Thus, the correct answer is:
The force decreases, while the distance increases.
