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Firefighter Mechanical Aptitude · Question

A firefighter is using a system of two pulleys to lift a heavy object. One pulley is attached to the ceiling (fixed), and the other is attached to the load (movable). How much force is approximately needed, compared to the load's weight, to lift the object (ignoring friction)?

A system with one fixed and one movable pulley has a theoretical mechanical advantage of 2, meaning the effort force required is approximately half the load's w

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Question: A firefighter is using a system of two pulleys to lift a heavy object. One pulley is attached to the ceiling (fixed), and the other is attached to the load (movable). How much force is approximately needed, compared to the load's weight, to lift the object (ignoring friction)?

Answer options:

  • Twice the load's weight ✅ Half the load's weight
  • Equal to the load's weight
  • One-quarter of the load's weight

Correct answer: Half the load's weight

Explanation: A system with one fixed and one movable pulley has a theoretical mechanical advantage of 2, meaning the effort force required is approximately half the load's weight.

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