Question

The team that wins in a tug-of-war is the team that . . .  

Which of the following is the right choice? Explain your answer.

(A) produces more tension in the rope than the opponent

(B) pushes hardest on the ground

(C) Both

(D) Neither

Answer 1

(C) Both

In a tug-of-war, the winning team is the one that can exert a greater force on the ground than their opponents. This is because the ground exerts an equal and opposite force on each team member (according to Newton's Third Law of Motion). The force exerted by each team member on the ground is transferred through their body and into the rope, causing tension in the rope.

If a team can push harder on the ground, they will generate a larger reaction force, which in turn increases the tension they can create in the rope. This increased tension allows them to pull their opponents toward them. Therefore, both statements (A) and (B) are correct, and the right choice is (C).