How to use the pulley system calculator
Find the effort force needed to lift a load with a pulley system. Enter load, supporting rope segments, efficiency in the fields above; the effort force, mechanical advantage are computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Formula
Variables
- w — Load (N)
- n — Supporting rope segments
- eff — Efficiency (%)
Worked example
With load = 1000 N, supporting rope segments = 4, efficiency = 90 %, the calculator gives effort force ≈ 277.7778 N; mechanical advantage ≈ 3.6.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for the pulley system calculation?
Effort force (N) = w / (n × eff / 100). Mechanical advantage = w / [Effort force]. Here w is load (N), n is supporting rope segments, eff is efficiency (%).
What inputs do I need for the pulley system calculator?
You need load in N, supporting rope segments, efficiency in %. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use this calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.