A pulley system makes it easier to lift an object than lifting the dead weight by hand. A single pulley essentially changes the direction of the pull or force applied. When a person uses two or more pulleys in a system, then the system also multiplies the force applied besides changing its direction.

Does a pulley system save you work?

A pulley with one wheel allows you to reverse the direction of your lifting force by pulling down on a rope (that's looped over the wheel), lifting your weight. With a two-wheel pulley, you reduce the effort you exert to lift the same amount of weight.

How do pulley systems help us do work?

The pulley, a simple machine, helps to perform work by changing the direction of forces and making easier the moving of large objects. ... With this type of pulley — called a fixed pulley — pulling down on a rope makes an object rise off the ground.