Final answer:
Tension in the rope when Kevin climbs at a constant speed is the product of his mass and gravitational acceleration, resulting in T = 539 N.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Kevin, whose mass is m=55 kg, climbs a rope at constant speed, the tension in the rope T can be calculated as the product of his mass and the acceleration due to gravity (g). This is because at constant speed, there is no net force acting on Kevin and the rope tension must balance his weight. Since weight is the force due to gravity, the tension T in the rope equals the weight W, which is the mass m times the acceleration due to gravity g. Using the standard value of g = 9.8 m/s², the expression for the tension is:
T = mg = (55 kg)(9.8 m/s²).
This results in a tension of T = 539 N (where N stands for Newtons).