Final answer:
Cable come-alongs are devices used to exert a force in the form of tension along the length of a cable to move loads, especially where precise or linear movement is necessary. They are employed in a range of applications including construction, medical settings, and transportation of heavy objects.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cable come-alongs are used to move loads by exerting a tension force parallel to their length. They are a type of flexible connector often employed in situations that require the movement or positioning of heavy objects. The force exerted by a cable come-along is a form of tension which pulls outward along the cable ends and is always parallel to the length of the connector, allowing the movement of loads around corners and over distances efficiently.
Understanding the concepts of tension and forces applied by flexible connectors, such as ropes, chains, or cables, is important when using equipment like a cable come-along. They operate on the principle that you can't push with a rope, and the pull has to be in line with the cable. This equipment is applied in various scenarios ranging from construction sites to hospital traction systems, where routes of force are needed around obstacles without the force's magnitude diminishing due to friction.