- #1
- 2,453
- 442
many pulleys at various angles multiply the initial power of the winch
How Do Pulleys Multiply Force in Complex Systems?
- Thread starter Ranger Mike
- Start date
-
- Tags
- Mechanical Power Pulley
Click For Summary
Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the mechanics of pulleys and their ability to multiply force in complex systems, particularly in practical applications such as vehicle recovery. The scope includes conceptual understanding and anecdotal evidence from real-life scenarios.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- Some participants suggest that multiple pulleys at various angles can effectively multiply the initial power of a winch.
- One participant mentions the "cat's cradle" technique, noting its rarity due to the lack of anchor points for snatch blocks in certain environments, such as highways.
- A participant shares an anecdote about a video demonstrating the challenges of recovering a heavy vehicle, highlighting the ineffectiveness of pushing it out with a bulldozer.
- Another participant comments on safety concerns regarding individuals near tensioned cables in recovery scenarios.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express various viewpoints on the effectiveness and application of pulleys, with no clear consensus on the best practices or techniques for using them in complex systems.
Contextual Notes
Some claims depend on specific conditions, such as the availability of anchor points and the type of recovery situation, which may not be universally applicable.
Who May Find This Useful
Individuals interested in mechanical systems, vehicle recovery techniques, or practical applications of physics in real-world scenarios may find this discussion relevant.
many pulleys at various angles multiply the initial power of the winch
- #2
Baluncore
Science Advisor
2025 Award
- 16,762
- 10,426
The "cat's cradle" technique is very rarely seen due to the lack of anchor points for snatch blocks near highways. It really comes into its own when a heavy vehicle sinks, or rolls over, in a forest.Ranger Mike said:
- #3
berkeman
Admin
- 69,371
- 24,710
Wow, very impressive. I like how they said they tried pushing it out with a 'dozer and that did not work, and then later in the video you can see the back of the truck with big letters "DO NOT PUSH". LOL 
- #4
DaveC426913
Gold Member
2025 Award
- 24,284
- 8,431
Man, guys just blithely walking in and amongst those tensioned cables...
Anybody seen Ghost Ship?
Anybody seen Ghost Ship?
Similar threads
- · Replies 5 ·
- · Replies 10 ·
- · Replies 9 ·
- · Replies 1 ·