If a block weighs 120 pounds and is moved with a mechanical advantage of 6, what is the force required to move it?

To determine the force required to move a block using a mechanical advantage, you divide the weight of the block by the mechanical advantage factor. In this scenario, the block weighs 120 pounds, and the mechanical advantage is 6.

Using the formula:

Force required = Weight of the block / Mechanical advantage

Substituting in the values:

Force required = 120 pounds / 6

Calculating this gives:

Force required = 20 pounds

This means that the correct answer is indeed the choice indicating 20 pounds. The mechanical advantage effectively means that the force you need to exert to lift the weight is reduced by the factor of that advantage, which allows a person to lift heavier weights more easily. Hence, 20 pounds is the correct answer as it reflects the calculation accurately.