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
Ant on a rubber rope Ant on a rubber rope The ant on a rubber rope is a mathematical puzzle with a solution that appears counterintuitive or paradoxical. It is sometimes given as a worm, or inchworm, on a rubber or elastic band, but the principles of the puzzle remain the same. The details of the puzzle can vary, but a typical form is as follows: At first consideration it seems that the ant will never reach the end of the rope, but in fact it does. (In the form stated above, it would take 8.9 years.) Whatever the length of the rope and the