In a block-and-tackle system, what happens with 3 supporting segments?

In a block-and-tackle system, the mechanical advantage (MA) is determined by the number of supporting segments of the rope. Each supporting segment effectively divides the load among multiple segments, thus allowing a user to lift heavier weights with less effort. When there are three supporting segments in such a system, the ideal mechanical advantage is equal to the number of these segments, which is three. This means that the effort applied is one-third of the load weight, making lifting easier as you gain a mechanical advantage.

Understanding that mechanical advantage is calculated by counting the number of rope segments that directly support the load helps clarify why the ideal MA equates to three in this scenario. Each supporting segment reduces the effort required to lift the load, and with three segments, the effort is distributed across these segments, effectively decreasing the force needed to lift the load.