Final answer:
Students facing a lot of resistance while climbing should understand the roles of tension in the rope and friction between their feet and the rock face, as well as how thin air at high altitudes can impact breathing.
Step-by-step explanation:
When students are engaged in climbing and face a lot of resistance, such as when scaling a steep vertical rock face, certain principles of physics come into play to ensure their safety and success. Considering Figures 5.20 and 5.22, part of a climber's weight is supported by the rope through tension, while the other part is counteracted by the friction between the climber's feet and the rock face. Additionally, the thin air at high elevations, as implied in Figure 22.1, can affect the climber's respiratory system; hence climbers must be mindful of their breathing and physical exertion during the climb.
For instance, in calculating the tension in a rope and the force exerted by the climber's feet, the climber's weight and the frictional force must be taken into account, as demonstrated in the problem involving a 52.0-kg mountain climber. Proper balance and foot placement are crucial, particularly in maximizing the frictional force, which is dependent on the minimum coefficient of friction between the shoes and the cliff. Therefore, when dealing with high resistance while climbing, it's imperative to understand these physical interactions and apply them practically to maintain safety and efficiency.