What is the advantage of using a multiple pulley system over a single pulley?

Using a multiple pulley system offers a significant advantage in reducing the amount of effort needed to lift heavy objects. This is due to the mechanical advantage provided by the configuration of multiple pulleys, which effectively multiplies the force applied. With a multiple pulley system, the load is distributed across several segments of rope, allowing you to lift a heavy object with less input force compared to using a single pulley.

While a single pulley can change the direction of the force applied (lifting the load upwards instead of pulling downwards), it does not reduce the amount of effort needed to lift the object. In contrast, multiple pulleys can significantly lessen the required effort, enabling a person to lift heavier loads that would otherwise be unmanageable with a single pulley alone.

The other advantages cited in the other choices, such as not requiring any effort, increasing the speed of lifting, or allowing for greater height increases, do not accurately represent the primary benefit of a multiple pulley system; the main advantage lies in the reduced effort needed to lift heavy loads.