- #1
murrmac
- 15
- 0
I would be much obliged if the engineers on the forum could answer the following query regarding mechanical advantage. I don't require exact calculations or anything, just a quick yes or no, along with some simple KISS type explanation will be gratefully received.
So, we have a situation in which these tribespeople have discovered a huge block of granite 4' x 3' in section and 8' long, and this block is sitting on the edge of a deep ravine.
For reasons which are immaterial, they wish to rotate the block through 90 degrees so that it does not sit on the edge of the ravine any more.
Their first attempt is as in the pic below.
http://imageshack.us/a/img204/8213/stonehenge1.png
This attempt is unsuccessful however, as there is obviously unsufficient leverage being exerted on the block.
So, they decide to attach a long steel beam to the back of the block, and tie the rope to the top of the beam, as in pic#2 below.
http://imageshack.us/a/img853/9914/stonehenge2.png
This attempt proves more promising, but they still need more mechanical advantage. This advantage could obviously be achieved by increasing the height of the beam once more, but what I would like to know is whether adding a pulley wheel to the top of the beam and extending the beam downwards, and attaching the rope to the bottom of the beam would result in any increased mechanical advantage compared to pic#2.
Or, would the mechanical advantage remain exactly the same ?
This proposal is depicted below, in pic#3.
http://imageshack.us/a/img20/1710/stonehenge3.png
All comments gratefully welcomed.
So, we have a situation in which these tribespeople have discovered a huge block of granite 4' x 3' in section and 8' long, and this block is sitting on the edge of a deep ravine.
For reasons which are immaterial, they wish to rotate the block through 90 degrees so that it does not sit on the edge of the ravine any more.
Their first attempt is as in the pic below.
http://imageshack.us/a/img204/8213/stonehenge1.png
This attempt is unsuccessful however, as there is obviously unsufficient leverage being exerted on the block.
So, they decide to attach a long steel beam to the back of the block, and tie the rope to the top of the beam, as in pic#2 below.
http://imageshack.us/a/img853/9914/stonehenge2.png
This attempt proves more promising, but they still need more mechanical advantage. This advantage could obviously be achieved by increasing the height of the beam once more, but what I would like to know is whether adding a pulley wheel to the top of the beam and extending the beam downwards, and attaching the rope to the bottom of the beam would result in any increased mechanical advantage compared to pic#2.
Or, would the mechanical advantage remain exactly the same ?
This proposal is depicted below, in pic#3.
http://imageshack.us/a/img20/1710/stonehenge3.png
All comments gratefully welcomed.
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