Question

Define the term "single fixed pulley". State its mechanical advantage and velocity ratio.

Answer 1

Single Fixed Pulley:

A single fixed pulley is defined as a pulley that has a fixed axis of rotation.

Mechanical Advantage of single fixed pulley:

1. Mechanical advantage is the ratio of load and effort.
2. If load $\left(\mathrm{L}\right)$ and effort $\left(\mathrm{E}\right)$ acts then the mechanical advantage $\left(\mathrm{MA}\right)$ is $\frac{\mathrm{L}}{\mathrm{E}}$.
3. For a single fixed pulley, load and effort are the same so $\mathrm{MA}=1$.

Velocity Ratio of single fixed pulley:

1. Velocity ratio is the ratio of the distance moved by the effort to the distance moved by the load.
2. For a single fixed pulley, load and effort are the same, therefore distance is also the same, which results in a velocity ratio $\left(\mathrm{VR}\right)$ equals to $1$.