How many parts of line are reeved in the pictured setup?

• A. 2
• B. 4
• C. 6
• D. 8

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that the number of parts of line reeved equals the number of rope segments actually supporting the load. In a block-and-tackle setup, the rope is threaded through fixed and movable pulleys so multiple strands share the load. To figure out how many parts are present, trace the line from the load connection and follow every straight, tensioned segment as it goes up and down through the pulleys. Each such segment that carries the load counts as one part of line.

If the pictured arrangement shows four distinct rope portions bearing the load, that means there are four parts of line reeved. This corresponds to roughly a 4:1 mechanical advantage (ignoring friction). The count would be different if there were more or fewer tensioned segments, so the correct answer reflects the exact number of load-bearing segments you can trace in the setup.