A Winch Trades Distance for Force
A winch is a hauling device with a drum and crank. It multiplies force by making you turn a long way.
A winch is a device for hauling, with a rope wound round a drum turned by a crank or motor. Its advantage comes from a straightforward trade: the crank handle travels in a wide circle while the drum surface travels in a small one, so a light force applied over a long distance becomes a heavy force over a short one. Nothing is gained overall — you simply exchange distance for power. That is the principle behind every simple machine, and a winch is a wheel and axle in practical form.
- A hauling device. *An electric winch.*
- Crank — the handle. *Turn the crank.*
- Drum — where the rope winds. *The drum.*
- Windlass — a horizontal version. *A windlass.*
- Old English — *wince*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | winch | A winch. |
| Plural | winches | Winches. |
| Verb | winch | Winch it up. |
| Related | windlass | A windlass. |
| Old English | wince | A pulley. |
- They winched the car out of the ditch.Recovery.
- The crank travels further than the drum.Mechanics.
- A windlass lies horizontally.Variant.
Hauling devices compared
- Winch — a drum turned by a crank or motor
- Windlass — a horizontal drum, common on boats
- Capstan — a vertical drum turned by walking around it
- Block and tackle — pulleys rather than a drum
- All trade distance for force in the same way
Old English *wince*, a pulley or reel, from a Germanic root meaning to bend or wind.
How does a winch multiply force?
The crank handle moves in a much larger circle than the drum surface, so a small force over a long distance becomes a large force over a short one.
What is a capstan?
A vertical drum turned by pushing bars around it, used on ships where several people could work together.