The force needed to lift with a pulley will

• A. Be greater than weight
• B. Not be more than the weight to be lifted
• C. Always equal to twice the weight
• D. Be zero

Answer: (B)

Pulley systems share the load across multiple rope segments, giving you a mechanical advantage. The force you apply equals the weight of the load divided by the number of rope segments supporting it. So you can meet the load with equal to the weight (when there’s no advantage) or with less than the weight (when there is more than one supporting segment). In an ideal, frictionless setup, the force you push with never exceeds the weight of the object being lifted, which is why the statement that the required force is not more than the weight is correct. For example, a movable pulley uses half the weight, while a simple fixed pulley uses essentially the same weight but only changes the direction of your pull.