How does a pulley make work easier when it is used to lift an object?(1 point)
Responses
It increases the amount of work produced to lift the object.
It increases the amount of work produced to lift the object.
It decreases the distance over which the force must be applied to lift the object.
It decreases the distance over which the force must be applied to lift the object.
It changes the direction of the lifting force to work with gravity.
It changes the direction of the lifting force to work with gravity.
It reduces the weight of the object being lifted.
It decreases the distance over which the force must be applied to lift the object.
The correct response is:
It decreases the distance over which the force must be applied to lift the object.
The correct answer is: It decreases the distance over which the force must be applied to lift the object.
To understand why a pulley makes work easier when used to lift an object, we need to consider the concept of work. In physics, work is defined as the product of force and displacement. In other words, work is done when a force is applied to an object and causes it to move a certain distance.
When lifting an object without a pulley, you need to apply a force over a certain distance to move the object upward against gravity. The work done in this case is equal to the force applied multiplied by the distance moved.
However, when a pulley is used, it changes the way in which the force is applied. Instead of pulling the object directly upward, a pulley allows the force to be applied horizontally or at an angle. As a result, the distance over which the force must be applied is reduced.
Imagine lifting a heavy box directly upward without a pulley. You would need to apply a force equal to the weight of the box over a certain distance. But with a pulley, you can use a rope and change the direction of the lifting force. By pulling the rope horizontally, you can effectively reduce the distance over which the force is applied.
By decreasing the distance over which the force must be applied, a pulley reduces the amount of work required to lift the object. This makes it easier to lift heavy objects, as you don't need to exert as much force or cover as much distance.