SME
Grade 5 Science · Problem type

The pull on a stack of washers

Use this for “How hard does gravity pull on a stack of 6 washers?”

Diagram

0123456789101.2 N6 washers
6 washers × 0.2 N = 1.2 N
This is an example. Type your own values to start a new problem.
Washers
×
Pull on one washer (N)
=
Pull on the stack (N)

Formulas

6 × 0.2 = 1.2
Washers × pull on one washer = pull on the stack

Assumptions

•
Gravity pulls every washer down. A spring scale measures the pull in newtons (N).
•
Each washer is pulled the same. More washers, more pull.
•
One newton is about the pull of gravity on a small apple.

Step-by-step

WE KNOW
Washers: 6 Pull on one washer: 0.2 N
FIND
pull on the stack
Step 1 · Find pull on the stack
6 × 0.2 = ?
Washers × pull on one washer = pull on the stack
The same pull for every washer: multiply by the washers.
6 × 2 tenths = 12 tenths
12 tenths = 1.2
Pull on the stack = 1.2 N
Check
Put the numbers back in. Both sides should match.
6 × 0.2 = 1.2 ✓
Topic check
See what you know: 5 questions on this topic
New questions each time. Pass to mark it complete.

Refresh

Related lessons

© 2026 SME. All rights reserved.