An adventurous archaeologist crosses between two rock cliffs by slowly going hand over hand along a rope stretched between the cliffs. He stops to rest at the middle of the rope. The rope will break if the tension in it exceeds 25000N, and our hero’s mass is 90kg.

Question

An adventurous archaeologist crosses between two rock cliffs by slowly going hand over hand along a rope stretched between the cliffs. He stops to rest at the middle of the rope. The rope will break if the tension in it exceeds 25000N, and our hero’s mass is 90kg.
(a) If the angle     is 10o, find the tension in the rope. 
(b) What is the smallest value the angle    can have if the rope is not to break?

Anonymous · Answer

draw the diagrem. each side holds half his weight. sin10=W/2 / Tension solve for tensions. b. put in tension=2500 solve for theta