Electrical Lifting Crane Model

Quick Answer: The Electrical Lifting Crane Model is a battery-powered working model in which an electric motor winds a cord around a drum and over a pulley at the top of a jib to raise a small load. It helps students follow the energy chain from chemical energy in cells to gravitational potential energy in the lifted load.

From Battery to Lifted Load

The listing image of the electrical lifting crane model shows a base carrying a battery holder and a push switch, a small motor with a winding drum, and an inclined jib with a pulley at its tip, from which the load hangs on a cord. Pressing the switch sends current from the cells to the motor. The motor turns the drum, the drum winds in the cord, and the pulley at the jib head turns that pull into an upward lift.

Every stage is an energy transfer that students can name: chemical energy in the cells becomes electrical energy, the motor converts it to kinetic energy of rotation, and the lifted load gains gravitational potential energy equal to its weight multiplied by the height raised. Some energy is always lost as heat in the motor and wires and as sound and friction in the drum and pulley, which is why the useful output is less than the electrical input.

With a stopwatch, a ruler and a known mass, older students can measure the power output of the crane and, if a meter is added, its efficiency. The battery type, the maximum load and whether the model can reverse to lower the load should be confirmed at enquiry.

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Stay within the load the crane is designed for; overloading stalls the motor and can overheat its windings.
• Release the switch as soon as the load reaches the jib head so the cord is not wound tight against the pulley.
• Remove the cells after use and before storage.
• Check the cord for fraying and keep it seated in the pulley groove.

Investigations with the Crane

• Tracing the energy chain from cells to lifted load and drawing a Sankey diagram
• Calculating work done as weight multiplied by height
• Timing a lift to find the output power in watts
• Comparing lifting times for different loads and discussing why the motor slows

Why Choose LabEquip

Design-technology and physics teachers use a working crane to connect electrical circuits with mechanical work in a way students can measure. LabEquip lists it in its STEM kits range alongside the Mechanical Pulley Working Model, which isolates the pulley part of the system for force measurements. Contact us through the contact page with your order details.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do students calculate the work done by the crane?

Multiply the weight of the load in newtons by the height it is raised in metres. A 100 g mass weighs about 1 N, so lifting it 0.3 m transfers about 0.3 J to gravitational potential energy. Dividing by the lifting time gives the useful power.

Why does the crane lift a heavy load more slowly?

A heavier load needs more torque from the motor. As the motor works harder its speed falls and it draws more current, so the lift takes longer. Beyond its limit the motor stalls, which is a clear reason to stay within the rated load.

Where does the wasted energy go?

Some electrical energy heats the motor windings and wires, some is lost as friction in the bearings, drum and pulley, and a little becomes sound. Students can feel the motor warm slightly after repeated lifts, which is direct evidence of the losses.

Can the crane lower its load?

Lowering needs the motor to run in reverse, usually by reversing the current through it. Some models include a reversing switch, while others only lift. If controlled lowering matters for your lessons, confirm it when you enquire.

What part does the pulley play?

The pulley at the jib head changes the direction of the pull, so the drum on the base can raise a load hanging out beyond the jib. On real cranes, several pulleys are combined in a block to multiply the lifting force.

Is the model safe for students to operate?

Yes. It runs from low-voltage cells, so there is no mains risk. Students should keep fingers away from the winding drum while it turns, stand clear of the hanging load, and switch off if the cord jams.

Last Updated: September 2026