Differential pulley the system becomes a simple "gun tackle" with a mechanical advantage of 2. The same principle is used in a differential windlass, where the connected pulleys are replaced by winches. In the above graphic, the four segments of the chain are labelled W, X, Y and Z. The magnitudes of their corresponding forces are "F", "F", "F" and "F", respectively. Assuming that the chain is massless, "F" = 0 because segment X is not supporting any weight. Taking the system at equilibrium, "F" and "F" are equal — if they were not, the lower pulley would freely turn until they
Block (sailing) matter is slightly complicated by the fact that every tackle has a "working end" where the final run of rope leaves the last sheave. More mechanical advantage can be obtained if this end is attached to the moving load rather than the fixed end of the tackle. There are various types of blocks that are used in sailing. Some blocks are used to increase mechanical advantage and others are used simply to change the direction of a line. A "ratchet block" turns freely when a line is pulled in one direction but does not turn the other direction, although the