Mechanics Practice Exam

When converting a 1:1 design to a 2:1 design in a hoisting system, you effectively change the mechanical advantage. In a 1:1 system, the speed of the load is directly equal to the speed of the motor. Thus, if the original speed is 600 feet per minute (FPM) for the 1:1 system, it means the load rises at 600 FPM. In a 2:1 system, the relationship between the speed of the motor and the speed of the load changes. Specifically, for every unit of travel the load moves, the motor must move twice that distance. This means the speed at which the load moves will be halved because the motor must rotate twice, effectively making the lifting speed slower. Thus, when you divide the original speed by 2, the calculations yield: 600 FPM (original speed) / 2 = 300 FPM (new speed for the 2:1 configuration). This reduction in speed allows for a greater load capacity while maintaining safety and control of the hoist's operation. Therefore, the new speed in the 2:1 configuration will indeed be 300 FPM.