To balance this lever the torques on each side of the fulcrum must be equal. Torque is weight x distance from the fulcrum so the equation for equilibrium is:

R_ad_a = R_bd_b

Solving for d_b, our missing value, and plugging in our variables yields:

d_b = \( \frac{R_ad_a}{R_b} \) = \( \frac{60 lbs. \times 3 ft.}{40 lbs.} \) = \( \frac{180 ft⋅lb}{40 lbs.} \) = 4.5 ft.

Drag is friction that opposes movement through a fluid like liquid or air. The amount of drag depends on the shape and speed of the object with slower objects experiencing less drag than faster objects and more aerodynamic objects experiencing less drag than those with a large leading surface area.

Two or more pulleys used together constitute a block and tackle which, unlike a fixed pulley, does impart mechanical advantage as a function of the number of pulleys that make up the arrangement.  So, for example, a block and tackle with three pulleys would have a mechanical advantage of three.

A fixed pulley is used to change the direction of a force and does not multiply the force applied. As such, it has a mechanical advantage of one. The benefit of a fixed pulley is that it can allow the force to be applied at a more convenient angle, for example, pulling downward or horizontally to lift an object instead of upward.

The mechanical advantage (MA) of an inclined plane is the effort distance divided by the resistance distance. In this case, the effort distance is the length of the ramp and the resistance distance is the height of the green box:

MA = \( \frac{d_e}{d_r} \) = \( \frac{4 ft.}{1 ft.} \) = 4