A wheel guiding a rope or cable so that it can redirect a tension force. An ideal fixed pulley changes the force direction without multiplying its magnitude. A freely rotating pulley with negligible moment of inertia and friction has equal rope tensions on its two sides; a finite moment of inertia instead relates their difference to its angular acceleration through the net torque.
A pulley is a simple machine that consists of a grooved wheel and a rope, cable, or belt that runs along the groove. It is used to change the direction of a force applied to an object and can also create a mechanical advantage, making it easier to lift heavy loads. Pulleys can be used alone or in combinations, known as pulley systems, to lift or move objects vertically or horizontally.
New to topics? Read the docs here!