Episode 47 – Perfect Pulleys

 First, you will need to download the Perfect Pulleys lab manual,

Pulleys, gee they are great. A pulley is a simple machine that pulls a line along an axle. Think about opening or closing your blinds in your home – this is a pulley mechanism! Where else do you see pulleys?

In this activity, we will create two pulleys: a horizontal pulley and a compound pulley. Both of these creations will solve a problem! Can you predict what might be the difference between these two?

The first pulley was presumably created in 1500 BC, when people used pulleys to gather water! Although it is hard to pinpoint precisely when the first pulley was used, it would make sense that this machine was used to gather resources in the early years of homo sapiens life.

Saskatchewan Curriculum Connections: FM5.2: Investigate characteristics of simple machines, including levers, wheels and axles, pulleys, inclined planes, screws, and wedges, for moving and lifting loads.