Rope & Pulley Puzzle

[Bonzo 2000]

Can anyone help with a puzzle I've seen elsewhere on AB. I recall it involved a person (or monkey possibly) being suspended on a rope over a pulley with a counterwieght on the other end. The puzzle had something to do with the difficulty in pulling himself upwards. Can anyone help me with the details?

[Hymie]

This is a famous puzzle, proposed by Lewis Carroll (he of Alice in Wonderland fame).

The question being what happens to the weight, if the monkey attempts to climb the rope?

[dundurn]

Ignoring the weight of the rope, both the monkey and the weight will rise to the top of the pulley, simultaneously. In doing so the monkey will 'climb' twice as far as he rises i.e. he has to climb the rope which he pulls over the pulley as well as the rope originally on his side.

[monkeyeyes]

Steady.....................

[Hymie]

dundurn.......you spoil-sport.