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If you were to compose a tug-of-war team, which players would you prefer to include - people with strong arms but weak legs, people with weak arms but strong legs, heavy people, or light people?

a) People with strong arms but weak legs

b) People with weak arms but strong legs

c) Heavy people

d) Light people

User Bill Shiff
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

In a tug-of-war team, it is more advantageous to have participants with strong legs and greater body mass because these factors allow them to generate more pulling force and ensure better anchorage against the opposing team, according to physics principles.

Step-by-step explanation:

If you were to compose a tug-of-war team, the ideal players to include would be those who can apply the most force against the ground to pull the rope towards their side. While strong arms are important for gripping the rope and maintaining a hold, the actual force applied during tug-of-war is largely due to leg strength and body mass which helps the participants anchor themselves and push against the ground to generate pulling force. Therefore, the best options would be:

  • People with weak arms but strong legs: Strong legs are more critical for providing the force necessary to pull the opposing team towards you.
  • Heavy people: Greater body mass can help in generating more force and providing better anchorage against the pull of the opposing team.

Option (a) 'People with strong arms but weak legs' would not be ideal because arm strength isn't as crucial as leg strength and mass. Option (d) 'Light people' would be at a disadvantage as they may not have sufficient mass to withstand the pulling force of the other team. In the context of tug-of-war, mass and lower body strength are more advantageous. This relates to physics principles such as force and friction, essential for understanding how best to root oneself during the game.

User Huw Davies
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