The wheel-and-axle and rope are two important mechanical devices that work together to transmit force and motion. The wheel-and-axle is a simple machine consisting of a circular wheel attached to a central shaft (the axle), which allows the wheel to rotate freely. The rope, on the other hand, is a flexible cord made of twisted or braided fibers, which can be used to pull or lift objects.
When the wheel-and-axle and rope are used together, they can create a variety of mechanical advantages, depending on the direction and magnitude of the applied force. In general, the relationship between the wheel-and-axle and rope depends on their relative directions of motion. The correct answer to the question is option 'A', which means that the wheel-and-axle and rope move in the same direction. Let us explain this in more detail.
Explanation: When the wheel-and-axle and rope move in the same direction, they form a simple pulley system. In this system, the rope is wrapped around the wheel-and-axle, and when force is applied to one end of the rope, it causes the wheel-and-axle to rotate. The direction of motion of the wheel-and-axle is the same as the direction of the force applied to the rope. The mechanical advantage of this system depends on the size of the wheel-and-axle and the number of times the rope is wrapped around it. The larger the wheel-and-axle, the greater the mechanical advantage, as it allows the force to be applied over a longer distance. Similarly, the more times the rope is wrapped around the wheel-and-axle, the greater the mechanical advantage, as it allows the force to be multiplied by the number of rope segments that support the load.
Examples of the wheel-and-axle and rope moving in the same direction:
1. A flagpole: In this example, the rope is attached to a flag and wrapped around a pulley at the top of the pole. When the rope is pulled down, it causes the pulley (which is a type of wheel-and-axle) to rotate, raising the flag to the top of the pole.
2. A clothesline: In this example, the rope is attached to a clothesline and wrapped around a pulley at one end. When the rope is pulled, it causes the pulley to rotate, pulling the clothesline tight and allowing clothes to be hung on it.