Mechanical Advantage Part 2 of 7: Types of Pulley Systems

Correction: 1. For complex systems, there are some rare cases where multiple pulleys will move in the same direction at different speeds where they would appear at first glance to be a compound system, however they are not. Classic example being the Crevasse 5:1 where you have a 2:1 system imposed within a 3:1 system. Again, very rare. So an additional criteria for complex systems is the catch-all phrase, “any system that doesn’t fall into the criteria for simple or compound systems”. Also in the case where all traveling pulleys move away from the anchor at different speeds, it isn’t necessarily a complex system, but rather could be a compound system. 2. For compound systems, as it pertains to practical rescue systems, the pulleys for the most part move towards the anchor at different speeds. But a rare case does exist where they move away from the anchor at different speeds.