======Block and Tackle with Broomsticks======


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**Alternative titles:** Simple Block and Tackle Pulley, Mechanical Advantage
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Choose three student volunteers: two to hold broom handles and one to pull the rope.  
  - Give gloves to the two broom-handle holders and have them stand 5–6 feet apart, holding the broom handles parallel to the ground at waist height.  
  - Tie one end of the rope securely to the center of one broom handle.  
  - Wrap the rope around the middle of the other broom handle, then hand the free end to the rope puller.  
  - Position the rope puller slightly behind and to the side of one broom-handle holder so the rope is pulled parallel to the ground.  
  - Have the rope puller pull steadily while the two holders resist being drawn together.  
  - Repeat the activity, wrapping the rope additional times around the broom handles to increase the number of loops. Observe how the effort required changes.



====Links==== 
Pulley fun! a fun, at-home science experiment - Science Beyond: 
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📄 Simple Block and Tackle Pulley Demonstration - Flinn Scientific: [[https://www.flinnsci.com/api/library/Download/77cdc16656df4bf6b673631749784ee4]]\\

====Variations====
  * Try different numbers of rope wraps and compare the effort needed each time.  
  * Use a spring scale on the rope to measure input force at different stages.  
  * Replace broom handles with dowels or PVC pipe to test different materials.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Wear cloth gloves to prevent rope abrasions.  
  * Keep the area clear to avoid tripping hazards.  
  * Pull the rope evenly - do not jerk or yank, as this could cause injury.  
  * Avoid rubbing the rope against participants’ hands.




====Questions to Consider====
  * What is the mechanical advantage of a block and tackle system? (It equals the number of supporting rope segments lifting the load.)  
  * Why does adding more loops make lifting easier? (The effort force is divided across more rope segments, reducing the input force required.)  
  * What is sacrificed when mechanical advantage increases? (The rope must be pulled a longer distance to move the load the same amount.)  
  * How does this demonstration relate to real-world pulley systems, such as cranes and elevators? (It models how pulleys reduce effort in lifting heavy objects by trading distance for force.)