Challenge Yourself Grab a fishing pole and try to catch objects of different weights. As you turn the reel to bring in the weight, the reel is doing a majority of the work. Pulleys were invented in ancient times to help lift extremely heavy objects. Did You Know ? AT HOME EXPERIMENT Exhibit Key Concept Simple Machines Practical Application When constructing buildings, pulleys are used to get materials from ground level to the top floor. Real World Examples Pulleys are used in rock climbing gear, elevators, window blinds, flag poles, fishing poles, and cranes.