Pulleys
Most recent answer: 10/22/2007
Q:
Hello, I am an orthopaedic resident in Colombia SA, my question is rather simple but I haven´t found the answer. Does the radius or diameter of a pulley affect in any way the work it does? Does a smaller pulley work more that a bigger pulley? What is the relationship between the raduis or diameter of a pulley with the work it does?
Thanks
- juancho (age 30)
bogota, colombia
- juancho (age 30)
bogota, colombia
A:
In the standard approximation, where we dont worry about ay energy
required to get the wheel turning, the radius doesnt matter. The key
property of pulleys is that one end of the rope moves more or less than
some other point. That allows you to either amplify the motion or
amplify the force- like with levers. The wheel radius may be picked to
be convenient for whatever rope or cable is being used. Something too
small would lead to problems if the rope couldnt bend sharply enough,
or if there were a lot of internal friction in the rope when it bent
sharply.
Mike W.
Mike W.
(published on 10/22/2007)