In a belt drive, which term describes the pulley on the load side?

• A. Drive sheave
• B. Belt
• C. Shaft
• D. Driven sheave

Answer: (D)

In a belt drive, the two pulleys have distinct roles: the one connected to the power source (motor) is the driving pulley, and the one connected to the load is the driven pulley. The term driven sheave specifically refers to the pulley on the load side, the component that receives motion and torque from the belt. The belt itself is the belt, and the drive sheave is the pulley on the motor side. The shaft is the rotating axis that supports the pulleys, not the pulley on the load side. So the best description for the pulley on the load side is driven sheave.