What is the general formula for calculating the Mechanical Advantage of a pulley system?

The mechanical advantage (MA) of a pulley system is determined by the number of independent ropes that support the load. In a system with movable pulleys, each rope that directly supports the load contributes to the overall mechanical advantage. This means that if there are multiple ropes, the weight of the load can be effectively reduced by the number of ropes lifting it. Consequently, using the number of ropes attached to each movable pulley directly relates to how much easier it is to lift a given weight, hence expressing the mechanical advantage.

For example, if there are two ropes supporting a load, the mechanical advantage is 2, indicating that the effort required to lift the load is halved. This relationship aids in understanding how pulley systems can be used to manipulate heavy weights with less force. Other options do not pertain directly to the calculation of mechanical advantage in the context of pulleys.