Question

Construction workers attach ropes and pulleys to wooden timbers on an old bridge.

They use the rope and pulley system like the one in the diagram below to move the
timbers away from each other, in order to dismantle the bridge.

Answer 1

Yes, the construction workers can effectively use a rope and pulley system to move the wooden timbers away from each other and dismantle the old bridge.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a rope and pulley system, mechanical advantage plays a crucial role in determining the system's effectiveness. The mechanical advantage (MA) is calculated as the ratio of the output force to the input force. In this scenario, the workers apply a force to one end of the rope, causing the wooden timbers to move away from each other. The pulley system multiplies this force, making it easier for the workers to achieve the desired separation between the timbers.

The mechanical advantage of a pulley system is influenced by the number of ropes and pulleys involved. The more ropes and pulleys, the higher the mechanical advantage. For instance, a system with a single fixed pulley has a mechanical advantage of 1, as it doesn't multiply the force. However, if a block and tackle arrangement with multiple pulleys is used, the mechanical advantage can be significantly increased. This is advantageous for the construction workers, allowing them to efficiently move the timbers with less applied force.

Answer 2

It is a safe and efficient method.

Step-by-step explanation:

This method of dismantle the bridge is also a good one but there are some other methods also that are used instead of rope and pulley system such as destroy the bridge by using bombs at the base of pillars and cutting of each part in order to dismantle the bridge. This rope and pulley system is also an efficient way to dismantle the bridge so that's why the engineers used this method instead of other methods due to its safe method.