Page 13 - FOUNDATIONS FOR LIFE; EXPLORING GOD’S UNIVERSE

Science Y6 – Forces and motion – lesson 7

Pulleys are a kind of wheel with a groove for a rope to fit into. If the rope is
attached to a heavy load it is easier to lift when it is passed over a pulley

wheel. We can pull down more easily than we can lift up because of the force
of gravity. We call our pulling ‘effort’.
Experiment 1

Aim: To see why people use pulleys.

Apparatus: Pulley, object (load) to lift

Method: Try to lift the load without a pulley. Set up the pulley and compare lifting it using one
pulley wheel. Is it easier?

Use two pulley wheels. Is the load easier to lift?

Result: ______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Experiment 2

Aim: To measure the weight needed to lift a given load.

Apparatus: Pulleys, load, weights

Method: Set up the pulley and record the weight of the load and the weights needed to lift it.
Try different loads. Try two pulleys.

pulley

container for weights.

load

Weight of load Weight needed to lift load with one Weight needed to lift load with
Results: pulley two pulleys

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