Pulley problem: Does the third pulley move up or down?

In summary, the pulley system in Figure 1.b consists of two pulleys of radii a and b that are fixed together but free to rotate about a common horizontal axis. A weight W hangs from the axle of a freely suspended pulley P, which can rotate about its axle. When section A of a rough rope is pulled down with velocity V, the weight will move up due to the fact that rope B moves down with velocity (b/a)V and D moves up with velocity V. This causes the center of the weight to rise with a speed of V(a-b)/2a. This can be understood by imagining that the rope does not slip on the pulleys and observing how much a point on segment D rises and how
  • #1
21joanna12
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Homework Statement


) The pulley system in Figure 1.b consists of two pulleys of radii a and b rigidly fixed
together, but free to rotate about a common horizontal axis. The weight W hangs
from the axle of a freely suspended pulley P, which can rotate about its axle. If
section A of a rough rope is pulled down with velocity V :
(i) Explain which way W will move.
(ii) With what speed will it move?
THE IMAGE IS IN QUESTION 3 HERE: http://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/olympiad/Downloads/PastPapers/BPhO_Round_1_2013_prt_1.pdf

Homework Equations


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The Attempt at a Solution


The answer is that the weight will move up because rope B moves down with velocity (b/a)V and D moves up with velocity V, so the centre of the weight rises with speed V(a-b)/2a

I really can't see why the mass would move up. Surely the same amount of string is fed through to each side of the pulley so it should not move?

Thank you in advance!
 
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  • #2
Imagine that the rope does not slip on the pulleys. If the top pulleys rotate through some small angle θ, how much will a point on segment D rise? How much will a point on segment B drop?
 

Related to Pulley problem: Does the third pulley move up or down?

1. How does a pulley system work?

A pulley is a simple machine that uses a wheel with a grooved rim and a rope or cable to lift or move heavy objects. When the rope is pulled, the wheel turns and the object is lifted. The pulley allows you to change the direction of the force needed to lift the object.

2. What is the purpose of a third pulley in a pulley system?

The third pulley in a pulley system is used to increase the mechanical advantage. By adding an additional pulley, the amount of force needed to lift an object is reduced, making it easier to lift heavy objects.

3. Does the third pulley move up or down?

The direction of movement of the third pulley depends on the direction of the applied force. If the force is applied downwards, the third pulley will move down. If the force is applied upwards, the third pulley will move up.

4. How do you calculate the mechanical advantage in a pulley system?

The mechanical advantage of a pulley system is calculated by dividing the weight of the object being lifted by the force applied to the rope. For example, if an object weighs 100 pounds and it takes 25 pounds of force to lift it, the mechanical advantage would be 4 (100/25 = 4).

5. Can a pulley system have more than three pulleys?

Yes, a pulley system can have multiple pulleys to further increase the mechanical advantage. However, adding more pulleys also increases the amount of rope needed and can make the system more complex to operate.

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