Understanding Mechanical Advantage in Pulley Systems/Runner/Other Pulley System

Mechanical Advantage:

The ratio of output force to input force in a mechanical system, which determines how much easier a task becomes using a machine

Pulley Systems:

Consist of a wheel with grooved rim and rope that runs along the groove. They can be fixed or moveable, and are used to lift or move loads

A runner:

Is a single moveable pulley that rises with the load as the rope is pulled

The mechanical advantage of a runner is:

Equal to the number of ropes supporting it, which is 2

Using a runner, the effort required to lift a load is:

Reduced by half, making the task easier

Single Fixed Pulley:

Has a mechanical advantage of 1, meaning it doesn’t reduce the effort required to lift a load but can change the direction of force.

Compound Pulley System:

Combines multiple pulleys(fixed/or moveable) to create higher advantage, such as 3 or 4, depending on the number of ropes supporting the load