Question

Sailboats use block and tackle systems to reduce the effort needed to move or raise the sails. If a block and tackle has five ropes, four that support the sail and one that the sailor pulls on, what is the mechanical advantage of the block and tackle?

Answer 1

The mechanical advantage of the block and tackle is that it is easier to lift a lock using multiple parts of the rope that go around the system of pulleys. If there are no friction, the mechanical advantage is exactly equal to the number of parts of the rope that are attached to the load.