Final answer:
To lift a 100 lb load, the muscle applies a force of 100 lb multiplied by the force-to-load ratio of 5 lb/lb, resulting in a total force of 500 lb.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking how much force a muscle is applying to lift a load, based on a given force-to-load ratio. The athlete is lifting a load of 100 lb. It's stated that the muscle typically needs to apply 5 lb of force to lift a 1 lb load. To find the total force applied by the muscle to lift a 100 lb load, you simply multiply the load (100 lb) by the force-to-load ratio (5 lb of force per 1 lb of load).
The calculation would be 100 lb × 5 lb/lb, which equals 500 lb of force applied by the muscle.