How does a flagpole work?

A flagpole works properly when a rope with the flag is passed through a pulley at the top of the pole. The trick is to ensure that the knot used to pass the rope through the pulley is easy to manipulate. This allows the flag to be unfurled correctly.

The pulley is attached to the top of the flagpole, and the rope must go through the pulley cleanly. The knot is more like a loop, and it must not get stuck at the pulley. One end of the rope is pulled while the other end is allowed to rise and fall freely. The flagpole may be made from metal or wood. The pulley is usually made from metal.