A simple pulley apparatus is described that gives the student hands-on experience with the Morse potential. Students develop an internalized sense of what a covalent bond would feel like if atoms in a molecule could be manipulated by hand. This kinesthetic learning enhances the student's understanding and intuition of several chemical phenomena. Possible learning objectives for different levels of chemistry instruction (from high school through upper-division undergraduate physical chemistry) are discussed. (Contains 3 figures.)