Question

A climber of mass m slides down a vertical rope with an average acceleration a. What is the average frictional force exerted by the rope on the climber?

Answer 1

m(g - a)

Step-by-step explanation:

Since he slides with a mass 'm' and acceleration of "a", it means he is sliding in the position of gravity. Thus, Force = ma

Now, the force due to gravity = mg

The overall acceleration of the climber is downward along the rope. So "ma" is negative. Now, the only external forces acting on the person will be the force of gravity acting downward (W = mg) and the supporting Frictional Force F_f.

Thus, the net average frictional force of exerted by the rope on the climber will be;

mg - F_f - ma = 0

F_f = mg - ma

F_f = m(g - a)