If the haul team exerts a force of 200 pounds onto a 4:1 mechanical advantage system, what is the resulting force?

• A. 50 pounds
• B. 800 pounds
• C. 100 pounds
• D. 200 pounds

Answer: (B)

A 4:1 mechanical advantage multiplies your input force by four, so the load you can move equals effort times four in ideal conditions. With an input of 200 pounds, the resulting force on the load is 200 × 4 = 800 pounds. In real systems, friction and rope efficiency reduce that actual force somewhat, but for the exam scenario it’s 800 pounds.