Which simple machine consists of a grooved wheel with a rope or cable wrapped around it?

A pulley is a simple machine that is designed with a grooved wheel around which a rope or cable can be wound. Its primary function is to change the direction of force applied to a load, making it easier to lift or move heavy objects. By allowing the user to pull down on the rope, the pulley effectively helps to lift the load upwards, thereby applying the principle of mechanical advantage.

While other options share concepts of lifting or moving loads, they do not specifically describe the design of the pulley. A lever is a different type of simple machine that uses a rigid arm pivoting around a fulcrum to amplify force, and a block and tackle is a system that employs multiple pulleys to further distribute weight and reduce the effort needed to lift objects. A cable system, on the other hand, refers to a mode of transferring force but does not specifically denote the grooved wheel mechanism characteristic of pulleys.

Understanding the function and design of a pulley is essential in physics and engineering to efficiently solve problems involving force and motion.