10 Work, energy, and power

AQA Physics Teacher notes

Efficiency of slopes and pulleys

Specification references
• 3.4.1.7 Work, energy and power
• 3.4.1.8 Conservation of energy
• PS 1.1
• PS 2.1, 2.1, 2.3, 2.4
• PS 3.1, 3.2, 3.3
• PS 4.1

Introduction
This activity comprises of two distinct parts:
• planning an experiment to determine the efficiency of a ramp
• analysing data to determine the efficiency of pulley systems.

Learning objectives
After completing the worksheet students should be able to:
• plan an experiment to find the efficiency of moving an object up a ramp
• perform a simple risk assessment
• determine the efficiency of different pulley systems through data analysis.

Teacher notes
• Although the planning activity is theoretical you may wish to allow students to carry out any
suitable activity.
• The activity can be extended to determine the effect of adding different substances to the
slope (e.g., oil, sand grains).
• Students may not have encountered pulley systems (or may only have encountered them
at KS3) and so some demonstrations may be helpful before they carry out the analysis of
results.

Task mark scheme

The student should provide a plan which comprises of a system for measuring the force required
to move an object up a ramp at different angles until it has moved upwards by 30.0 cm. The plan
needs to incorporate measurement of the angle, the distance an object moves, and the
(minimum) force required to move it.
1 Award 2 marks for a comprehensive apparatus list, 1 mark for a list of key apparatus.
2 Award 2 marks for a diagram showing the equipment set up which enhances the explanation
of the practical and shows which measurements are to be made, 1 mark for a more basic
diagram.
3 Award 1 mark for identification of a risk involved and 1 mark for a suitable control measure
(e.g., falling masses and floor/foot protection).

© Oxford University Press 2015 www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements

This resource sheet may have been changed from the original 1
 10 Work, energy, and power
AQA Physics Teacher notes

4 Award 3 marks for a comprehensive procedure which could be followed independently and
produce valid results. Award 2 marks for a procedure covering all of the key steps which may
need some guidance while carrying out. Award 1 mark for a simple procedure lacking detail.
Do not award any marks for no method or a method which is clearly unsafe or will not
produce valid data.
Students must identify that the tension in the rope must be measured for full marks.
5 Award 2 marks for a table with all headings and units. Award 1 mark for a table missing one
unit or appropriate heading.
6 Award 2 marks for a comprehensive explanation of all of the required calculations (e.g., work
done = F s, where s is the length of the ramp, GPE gain = m g ∆h, efficiency = work done /
GPE gain). Award 1 mark for a partial explanation of the calculations.
7 Award 2 marks for a detailed explanation (e.g., a graph of angle against efficiency to find
maximum efficiency and therefore best angle), or 1 mark for a partial/vague explanation.

Answers
Number of Force Distance Work Efficiency
5 7 
pulleys / × 10 N /m / × 10 J %
1 5.01 20.0 1.00 0.98
2 2.58 40.0 1.03 0.95
3 1.82 60.0 1.09 0.90
4 1.46 80.0 1.17 0.84
5 1.27 100.0 1.27 0.77

1 See Table 1. Award 2 marks for all values correct, or 1 mark for at least three.
2 See Table 1.Award 2 marks for all values correct, or 1 mark for at least three.
3 The graph should have the following characteristics:
• suitable scales and label on axes (1 mark)
• accurate plotting of data points (1 mark)
• data points occupy over half of the graph scales (1 mark)
• curve of best fit. (1 mark)
4 The efficiency decreases as the number of pulleys increases (1 mark) but the decrease is
not linear (1 mark).
5 The efficiency decreases because the actual mass being lifted is getting larger as more rope
and pulleys are having to be lifted (1 mark), and frictional forces between the pulley and
ropes increases as the number of pulleys increase (1 mark).

© Oxford University Press 2015 www.oxfordsecondary.co.uk/acknowledgements

This resource sheet may have been changed from the original 2