If Burl carried Paul piggy-back while standing in the middle of a scaffold,the tensions in the two supporting ropes would
A)cancel to zero.
B)be equal.
C)be unequal.
D)more easily support Burl and Paul.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The tensions in the two supporting ropes would be equal because the weight of Burl and Paul would be evenly distributed between the two ropes. This is known as the principle of equilibrium, which states that for an object to be in a state of equilibrium, the net force acting on the object must be zero and the torques (or moments) around any point must also be zero. In this case, the net force on the scaffold and Burl and Paul is zero because they are not accelerating, and the torques around the point where the ropes are attached to the scaffold are also zero because the tensions in the two ropes are equal and opposite, canceling each other out.

If Burl Carried Paul Piggy-Back While Standing in the Middle