If Burl carries 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 in dynamic equilibrium.
D)more easily support Burl and Paul.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Since Burl and Paul are both on the scaffold and not moving, the scaffold is in static equilibrium, which means the sum of all the forces acting on it must be zero. The tension in each rope is a force acting on the scaffold, and since the scaffold is not moving, the tensions must be equal in order for the forces to balance out. Therefore, the tensions in the two supporting ropes would be equal.

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