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How Pulleys Lift Heavy Things

Have you ever seen a crane lift a giant block, or pulled a flag up a pole? They use a clever little machine called a pulley!

A pulley turns a hard pull into an easy pull. 💪➡️🙂

Tap Next and let's find out how it works!

What is a pulley?

A pulley is just a wheel with a groove and a rope that runs around it. Tap each part to learn its job!

🛞 Wheel 📍 Axle 🪢 Rope
👆 Tap a part above to see what it does.

Trick 1: Change the direction

A pulley fixed to the top lets you pull DOWN to make the box go UP. Pulling down is easier — you can use your own body weight!

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The box is on the ground. Pull to lift it up!

Trick 2: Share the load

Here is the magic! Add a second wheel that moves with the box. Now two ropes hold the weight, so each rope only carries half. You pull half as hard! 🎉

A box weighs 100. How hard do you pull with this 2-wheel pulley?

😣Pull 100
(all of it)
🙂Pull 50
(half!)
😮Pull 0
(nothing)

Trick 3: More wheels, less effort

Add even more wheels and ropes — this is called a block and tackle. The more ropes share the weight, the easier it gets. Drag the slider to add wheels!

Pull strength: 100

🛞 Wheels (ropes): 1

Goal: slide it to make the pull as easy as possible. 💪

Spot the pulleys!

Pulleys are everywhere in Singapore. Tap the things that use a pulley. Watch out — one of them does not!

🚩Flagpole
🏗️Crane
🪟Window blinds
🪣Well bucket
🛝Playground slide
Found 0 of 4 pulleys.
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Well done, pulley pro!

You now know how pulleys lift heavy things:

Next time you raise a flag, you'll know the secret! 🎉