6.
ROPE AND PULLEY BLOCK
AIM: To determine velocity ratio, mechanical advantage and efficiency of rope and
pulley block.
APPARATUS: Pulley, Weight, Rope, Scale etc.
THEORY:
Description of Machine
In this rope and pulley block, two pulley blocks are used each having equal number of
pulleys. Lower block is used to lift the load and upper block is used to apply effort. One
end of string is attached to hook of upper pulley block as shown in Fig. 1a, and then taken
round all the pulleys. The other end is attached to effort. Same tension is produced in
every segment of string. For determining V.R. of system consider free body diagram of
lower pulley block as shown in Fig. 1b.
Theoretical Velocity Ratio
Considering the equilibrium of lower block we get,
W = 6T
T = P,
Hence, W = 6P
W/P = 6 = M.A.
For 100% efficiency, M.A. = V.R.
V.R = 6
In general, if number of pulleys are, N
Then, V.R. = N
Fig.1a Fig.1b
Fig. 1 Experimental Set Up
PULLYES:
A systematic arrangement of one or more pulleys may provide a simple and convenient
lifting machine. Depending on arrangement, pulleys are classified as
1. First order pulley system
2. Second order pulley system
3. Third order pulley system
First order pulley system
A first order pulley system is shown in Fig. 2. Pulley No. 1 is fixed in position to a
support at top. A rope passes over this pulley and one end of this rope is tied to the
support at top, making a loop, in which pulley No. 2 is suspended and effort is applied at
other end. One end of another rope is tied to pulley No. 2 and the other end to the top
support which makes a loop in which pulley No. 3 is suspended. Similarly, a number of
pulleys can be arranged as shown, when an effort is applied to lift the load except first
pulley all other pulleys move vertically. Therefore, first pulley is termed as fixed pulley
and the others as movable pulleys.
Let an effort P be applied to lift a load W. In an ideal pulley system (i.e. friction is zero)
the rope which passes over the pulley No. 5 is subjected to tension W/2. Then tension in
rope which passes over pulley No. 4 is W/4 and tension in the rope which passes over
pulley No. 3 is W/8, similarly on pulley No. 2 is W/16. Hence, an effort equal to W/16 is
required to lift a load W.
P=W/16
And hence MA = W/P
= W/ (W/16)
= 16
But in ideal machine, VR = MA
Therefore, VR = 2n
Where, n = Number of movable pulleys
Second order pulley system
Figure 3 shows the second order system of pulley. This system consists of a top pulley
block and a bottom pulley block. In a pulley block pulleys may be arranged side by side
or may be one below the other as shown in figure. The top pulley block is fixed in
position at top support whereas bottom pulley block can move vertically along with the
load which is attached to it. One end of the rope is attached to the hook provided at the
bottom of the pulley block and the effort is applied at the other end. A single rope goes
round all the pulleys.
Neglecting frictional losses, the tension in the rope all along the length is P. Take the
section along 1-1 and consider the equilibrium of the bottom pulley block.
The load W is lifted using six ropes having equal tension P.
Therefore, W = 6P
Now, MA = W/P
= 6P/P
=6
But, VR = MA in ideal machine
=6
That is, VR = N
Where, N = Number of pulleys
Third order pulley system
The arrangement of the pulleys in the third system is as shown in Figure 4. In this system
a pulley No. 1 is fixed to the top support, over which a rope passes. One end of the rope is
attached to a rigid base at the bottom. The other end is attached to second pulley. Over
this pulley another rope passes, whose one end is attached to the same rigid base and the
other end to a third pulley as shown. Likewise a series of pulleys can be arranged. The
load to be lifted will be attached to the rigid base.
Let the effort required be P to lift a load W. Then neglecting the friction,
Tension in the rope which passes over pulley No. 4 = P
Tension in the rope which passes over pulley No. 3 = 2P
Tension in the rope which passes over pulley No. 2 = 4P
Tension in the rope which passes over pulley No. 1 = 8P
Therefore, a total force of 15P is acting on the base.
Lifting force produced at the base = 15P
Considering the equilibrium of rigid base,
W = 15P
Therefore, MA = W/P
= 15P/P
= 15
But in ideal machine, VR = MA
And hence, VR = 15
= 2n -1
Where, n = number of pulleys.
PROCEDURE:
Wind the string on the pulleys and fix effort and load hook at certain position.
Measure initial positions of load and effort.
Now, bring effort to datum and note the distance by which the effort and load moves
and calculate V.R.
Put some weight in load pan.
Put some weight in effort pan gently, so that it is just sufficient to lift load and load
pan just starts to move up.
Repeat procedure for further observations.
Plot the graph of effort vs load & find out its slope.
Same way plot the graph of efficiency vs load & find out max efficiency.
