The previous page explained how to calculate the mechanical advantage of a rope-and-pulley system using the T-System. This page explains the "counting the lines" method. "Counting the lines" is an easy to use method that works best with simple mechanical advantage systems, although this method can be used with compound systems.
To calculate the mechanical advantage by counting the lines, count the number of rope segments (aka "lines") that are either connected to the load or that are connected to a pulley that will travel at the same speed as the load.
Referring to this next illustration, three "lines" match this criteria, so this is a 3:1 system.
Calculating the mechanical advantage of compound rigging systems using the "counting the lines" method is a little challenging. As you may recall, a compound system is defined as one simple system pulling on another simple system. To calculate the mechanical advantage of these systems using the "counting the lines" method, you need to:
See if you can use the "counting the lines" method to solve the following systems. (Click on the illustrations to enlarge them.)
The "counting the lines" method of calculating mechanical advantage is easy and blazingly fast. You simply count all ropes (aka "lines") that are connected to the load or that are connected to a pulley that will move at the same speed as the load. This method is much faster than the T-System when calculating the mechanical advantage of simple systems, although it's not always intuitive when working with compound systems and it can't solve complex systems.
The "critical point test" (aka "scissors test") requires that if any one item fails, nobody should be injured.
A "bend" is a knot that joins two ropes.
A "hitch" is a type of knot that must be tied around another object.
The "whistle test" requires that if all rescuers let go, nobody should be injured.
