When Nellie hangs suspended from a pair of ropes that are not vertical, the tension in each rope is
A)less than half her weight.
B)half her weight.
C)more than half her weight.
D)her weight.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the ropes are not vertical, they form an angle with the horizontal surface. This means that the total tension in the ropes must be greater than Nellie's weight in order to counteract the component of her weight that is pulling her down in a vertical direction. The greater the angle formed by the ropes, the greater the tension required to support Nellie's weight. Therefore, the tension in each rope when Nellie hangs suspended from a pair of non-vertical ropes is more than half her weight, making choice C the best option.

When Nellie Hangs Suspended from a Pair of Ropes That