A pulley is lots of fun to play with, and easy to make! We loved our homemade pulley made from hardware supplies, now make this small pulley system with a cup and string. Who says physics has to be hard or difficult! Do-able STEM activities you can set up at home or in the classroom.
HOW TO MAKE A PULLEY
HOW DOES A PULLEY WORK
Pulleys are simple machines that have one or more wheels over which a rope is looped. Pulleys can help us lift heavy things more easily. Our homemade pulley system below doesn’t necessarily reduce the weight of what we are lifting, but it does help us move it with less effort!
If you want to lift a really heavy weight, there’s only so much force your muscles can supply, even if you are the world’s strongest person. But use a simple machine like a pulley and you can multiply the force your body produces.
The object lifted by a pulley is called the load. The force applied to the pulley is called the effort. Pulleys require kinetic energy to function.
The earliest evidence of pulleys dates back to Ancient Egypt. Now days, you will find pulleys on clotheslines, flagpoles, and cranes. Can you think of any more uses?
Click here to get free printable pulley instructions!
HOW TO MAKE A PULLEY
Want to make a larger outdoor pulley system? Check out our original homemade pulley.
SUPPLIES:
- Thread spool
- String
- Cardboard
- Scissors
- Cup
- Marbles
- Wire (for suspension)
INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1: Poke two holes in your cup. Thread the string through the holes and tie your string so it will lift the cup in the center.
STEP 2: Cut two circles from cardboard and poke a hole in the center of each.
STEP 3: Glue the cardboard circles to each side of the thread spool.
STEP 4: Thread the spool through a wire and then suspend the wire.
STEP 5: Fill your cup with marbles.
STEP 6: Pull your string across the thread spool pulley to lift your cup of marbles with ease!
MORE FUN THINGS FOR KIDS TO MAKE
- Use those marbles to make this fun marble roller coaster.
- Create your own DIY magnifier.
- Have fun with a simple homemade winch.
- Grab some PVC pipes to make a PVC pipe pulley. Or what about a pumpkin pulley?
- Build a pipeline or a water wheel.
- Find out how to make a windmill.
Printable Simple Machines Pack
Check out all our simple machine projects here or explore the projects below…
Explore, through hands-on activities, the six simple machines, including the wheel and axle, lever, screw, incline plane, pulley, and wedge, with easy-to-digest information and a totally do-able project!
What’s Included:
- 6 simple machines projects: One for each machine including the wheel/axle, lever, wedge, screw, pulley, and inclined plane
- Instructions, pictures, and templates (if applicable) for each project
- Informational sheet on each simple machine with easy-to-digest information that is perfect for kids to read.
- A quick video to watch illustrating the different machines.
- Fun extras are perfect for early finishers, quiet time, or to send home to extend the learning.
