With a single pulley attached to the ceiling, the force needed to lift an object is

With a single pulley attached to the ceiling, the force needed to lift an object is

• A. The same as lifting without the pulley
• B. Half the weight
• C. Twice the weight
• D. Zero

Answer: (A)

A single fixed pulley only redirects the rope; it does not multiply the effort. In an ideal setup (massless rope, frictionless pulley), the tension in the rope is the same everywhere, and the load is supported by that tension. Since you’re simply changing the direction of the force, the upward force on the object equals the force you apply, which must match the object's weight to lift it at a steady rate. The idea of half the weight would come from a movable pulley that provides mechanical advantage, while twice the weight or zero force would contradict how a fixed pulley transfers load. So the force needed is the same as lifting without the pulley.

A single fixed pulley only redirects the rope; it does not multiply the effort. In an ideal setup (massless rope, frictionless pulley), the tension in the rope is the same everywhere, and the load is supported by that tension. Since you’re simply changing the direction of the force, the upward force on the object equals the force you apply, which must match the object's weight to lift it at a steady rate. The idea of half the weight would come from a movable pulley that provides mechanical advantage, while twice the weight or zero force would contradict how a fixed pulley transfers load. So the force needed is the same as lifting without the pulley.