Question

Use the image of the pulley to answer the question.

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.

The force increases, while the distance decreases.
The force increases, while the distance decreases.

Both the force and the distance decrease.
Both the force and the distance decrease.

Both the force and the distance increase.

Answer 1

The force decreases while the distance increases.

With an ideal pulley (mechanical advantage 2) the required force halves to 200 N and the rope must be pulled twice as far (8 m), since work (400 N·4 m = 1600 J) is conserved.