How to Make a Simple Pulley Machine
A simple pulley machine embraces one of the most basic concepts of physics. Pulleys reduce the amount of "work" or energy that must be expended to move or lift an object by displacing the force needed. Simple pulley machines make great science projects. They also can be used by parents and teachers to demonstrate basic principles of physics to grade-school children.
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Instructions
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Open the top of your wire hanger by twisting the hook at the top. You can use pliers for this purpose if you find that the wire is too difficult to untwist with your hands.
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Slide an empty thread spool onto the wire hanger and maneuver it to the widest point at the bottom of the hanger. You may need to bend and manipulate one of the bottom angles of the hanger in order to slide the spool into place.
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Bend the hanger back into shape and twist the top of the hanger back together. You made need to use your pliers for twisting the wire together.
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Cut a piece of string or wire that is about 3 feet in length. Run your yarn or string over the top of the thread spool.
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Hang your hanger on an elevated object, such as a coat rack, cabinet handle or shower curtain rod.
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Tie one end of the string or yarn to a weight. You can use any small object, such as a pen, fork or empty soda can, as your weight. Grasp the opposite end of the string with your hand. When you pull on the string, your weight will rise. You can demonstrate the "work/force" difference by attaching a separate string to an identical weight and comparing the force needed to lift the object with the string alone versus using the simple pulley machine.
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References
- Photo Credit Pulley image by Gennaro Russolillo from Fotolia.com
