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Intermediate Rigging (RI) study materials
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Intermediate Rigging (RI) practice questions

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Question 1Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

What is the primary purpose of a load chart on a crane?

  1. To record the operator's daily inspection results
  2. To list the maintenance schedule for the crane
  3. To define the crane's capacity at specific radii and configurations Correct answer.
  4. To show the fuel consumption at various loads

Explanation

A load chart specifies the maximum allowable load at given boom lengths, radii, and configurations, accounting for stability and structural limits. Operators must consult it before every lift to confirm the load is within capacity.

Question 2Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

When calculating the total load for a lift, which of the following must be added to the weight of the load itself?

  1. Only the counterweight of the crane
  2. Only the operator's weight
  3. The weight of rigging hardware and attachments Correct answer.
  4. The weight of the crane's fuel

Explanation

The total load includes the load, all rigging hardware, slings, shackles, and any attachments below the hook. Failing to include rigging weight can cause an overload even when the load alone is within capacity.

Question 3Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

What does the term 'working load limit' (WLL) represent for a sling?

  1. The weight of the sling itself
  2. The average load the sling carries over its lifetime
  3. The maximum load the sling is designed to support in a specific configuration Correct answer.
  4. The load at which the sling will break

Explanation

The working load limit is the maximum mass or force a sling is authorized to support in a particular rigging configuration. It is derived from the breaking strength divided by a design factor.

Question 4Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

As the angle between two legs of a sling decreases toward vertical, what happens to the tension in each leg?

  1. Tension stays the same
  2. Tension decreases Correct answer.
  3. Tension becomes zero
  4. Tension increases

Explanation

When sling legs are more vertical, the load is shared more efficiently and tension per leg is lower. As the angle between legs widens toward horizontal, tension rises sharply.

Question 5Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

What is the minimum design factor typically required for wire rope slings used in general lifting?

  1. 3:1
  2. 10:1
  3. 5:1 Correct answer.
  4. 2:1

Explanation

General-purpose wire rope slings are commonly required to have a design factor of at least 5:1, meaning the breaking strength is five times the working load limit. This margin accounts for wear and dynamic effects.

Question 6Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A load weighs 4,000 lb and the rigging weighs 200 lb. What total load must be compared to the crane's capacity?

  1. 3,800 lb
  2. 4,000 lb
  3. 4,200 lb Correct answer.
  4. 4,400 lb

Explanation

The total load equals the load weight plus all rigging weight, so 4,000 lb plus 200 lb equals 4,200 lb. This total must be checked against the crane's rated capacity at the working radius.

Question 7Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

Which condition most reduces a crane's lifting capacity at a given boom length?

  1. Reducing the load weight
  2. Using a shorter sling
  3. Lowering the boom angle while keeping radius constant
  4. Increasing the working radius Correct answer.

Explanation

Capacity decreases as the working radius increases because the load moment grows and stability margins shrink. The load chart shows lower capacities at longer radii.

Question 8Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

What does a load moment indicate in crane operations?

  1. The load weight divided by the radius
  2. The boom length divided by the load weight
  3. The angle of the boom relative to horizontal
  4. The load weight multiplied by the working radius Correct answer.

Explanation

Load moment is the product of the load and its horizontal distance from the crane's tipping axis or rotation center. It quantifies the overturning effect the load exerts on the crane.

Question 9Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A two-leg sling supports a 2,000 lb load with each leg at 30 degrees from vertical. Which statement best describes the tension in each leg?

  1. Each leg carries less than 1,000 lb
  2. Each leg carries more than 1,000 lb Correct answer.
  3. Each leg carries the full 2,000 lb
  4. Each leg carries exactly 1,000 lb

Explanation

When sling legs are angled from vertical, the vertical component of each leg's tension must sum to the load. Because the legs are not vertical, tension per leg exceeds half the load.

Question 10Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

What is the effect of a shock load on rigging compared with a static load of the same weight?

  1. Shock loading has no effect on tension
  2. Shock loading produces higher tension Correct answer.
  3. Shock loading produces lower tension
  4. Shock loading only affects the crane, not the slings

Explanation

Sudden application or release of a load creates dynamic forces that can greatly exceed the static weight. Rigging must be sized to withstand these amplified forces or the load must be applied gradually.

Question 11Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A crane has a rated capacity of 10,000 lb at a 30 ft radius. The load weighs 8,500 lb and rigging weighs 600 lb. What is the status of this lift?

  1. Within capacity with 1,500 lb margin
  2. Over capacity by 100 lb
  3. Over capacity by 900 lb
  4. Within capacity with 900 lb margin Correct answer.

Explanation

Total load is 8,500 lb plus 600 lb, equal to 9,100 lb. Subtracting from 10,000 lb leaves a 900 lb margin, so the lift is within capacity.

Question 12Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

Why must the center of gravity of a load be considered when planning a lift?

  1. It sets the crane's hydraulic pressure
  2. It affects how the load balances and where the hook must be positioned Correct answer.
  3. It determines the fuel efficiency of the crane
  4. It determines the color coding of the slings

Explanation

If the hook is not positioned over the center of gravity, the load will tilt and shift, redistributing tension among sling legs. This can overload individual legs and cause loss of control.

Question 13Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

What happens to the tension in a single sling leg as its angle from horizontal decreases from 60 degrees toward 30 degrees?

  1. Tension becomes negative
  2. Tension remains constant
  3. Tension increases Correct answer.
  4. Tension decreases

Explanation

As a sling leg becomes more horizontal, its vertical lifting component shrinks, so more tension is needed to support the same load. Lower angles from horizontal therefore raise tension.

Question 14Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

Which factor is most likely to reduce the actual capacity of a crane below the value shown on its load chart?

  1. Operating on soft or sloping ground Correct answer.
  2. Using outriggers fully extended as specified
  3. Following the manufacturer's assembly procedures
  4. Operating on firm, level ground

Explanation

Load charts assume stable, level support. Soft or sloping ground can reduce stability and effective capacity, requiring matting or repositioning.

Question 15Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A load of 6,000 lb is lifted by a four-leg sling bridle with legs at equal angles. What assumption is commonly made about load distribution when the load is rigid and level?

  1. Each leg carries 1,500 lb Correct answer.
  2. Each leg carries 6,000 lb
  3. Only two legs carry the load
  4. Each leg carries 3,000 lb

Explanation

For a symmetric bridle with a rigid, level load, the load is assumed shared equally among legs, giving 6,000 lb divided by four, or 1,500 lb per leg. Uneven loading may require more conservative assumptions.

Question 16Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

What is the purpose of a design factor in rigging?

  1. To eliminate the need for inspections
  2. To increase the load capacity beyond the breaking strength
  3. To reduce the weight of the rigging hardware
  4. To provide a safety margin between working load and breaking strength Correct answer.

Explanation

A design factor ensures the working load limit stays well below the breaking strength, providing a margin for wear, dynamic forces, and minor errors. It does not permit exceeding breaking strength.

Question 17Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A load is lifted with a two-leg sling where one leg is vertical and the other is at 45 degrees. Which leg carries more tension?

  1. The angled leg carries more Correct answer.
  2. Both carry equal tension
  3. Neither leg carries tension
  4. The vertical leg carries more

Explanation

The angled leg must carry a higher tension because its force is split between vertical and horizontal components, requiring more total tension to supply the same vertical contribution. The vertical leg's tension equals its full vertical share.

Question 18Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

Why is it important to keep the hook directly over the center of gravity before lifting?

  1. To reduce the crane's fuel use
  2. To increase the crane's rated capacity
  3. To prevent the load from tilting and shifting Correct answer.
  4. To shorten the sling length

Explanation

Positioning the hook over the center of gravity keeps the load balanced and level, preventing sudden shifts that can overload slings or cause the load to swing.

Question 19Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A crane's capacity at a 40 ft radius is 7,200 lb. The total load including rigging is 6,800 lb. What is the approximate capacity utilization?

  1. About 84 percent
  2. About 104 percent
  3. About 94 percent Correct answer.
  4. About 74 percent

Explanation

Utilization equals the total load divided by the rated capacity: 6,800 divided by 7,200 is approximately 0.94, or 94 percent. This leaves a small margin that warrants careful monitoring.

Question 20Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

What is the main reason a lift plan should account for wind on the load?

  1. Wind adds horizontal forces that increase sling tension and can cause load swing Correct answer.
  2. Wind improves the crane's stability
  3. Wind reduces the weight of the load
  4. Wind changes the color of the load

Explanation

Wind acts horizontally on the load and rigging, increasing tension and creating swinging or rotation that can destabilize the lift. Lift plans must limit operations when wind exceeds safe thresholds.

Question 21Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A load has an off-center center of gravity, so one sling leg carries 70 percent of the load. If the total load is 5,000 lb, what tension must that leg be rated to carry at minimum?

  1. 3,500 lb Correct answer.
  2. 2,500 lb
  3. 5,000 lb
  4. 1,500 lb

Explanation

Seventy percent of 5,000 lb is 3,500 lb, so the heavily loaded leg must be rated for at least that tension. Each leg should be checked against its actual share rather than an equal-share assumption.

Question 22Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A crane is rated at 12,000 lb at a 25 ft radius and 9,000 lb at a 35 ft radius. The load plus rigging totals 9,500 lb and must be placed at a 35 ft radius. What is the correct conclusion?

  1. The lift is acceptable because rigging weight is small
  2. The lift is acceptable because the load is under 12,000 lb
  3. The lift is acceptable if the boom is lengthened
  4. The lift exceeds capacity at the required radius Correct answer.

Explanation

Capacity must be evaluated at the actual working radius of 35 ft, where the rating is 9,000 lb. Since 9,500 lb exceeds that value, the lift is over capacity and must be replanned.

Question 23Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

Two slings support a load with an included angle of 120 degrees between the legs. Compared with an included angle of 60 degrees, how does the tension per leg change?

  1. Tension is lower at 120 degrees
  2. Tension is the same at both angles
  3. Tension is higher at 120 degrees Correct answer.
  4. Tension cannot be determined from the angle alone

Explanation

A wider included angle means each leg is further from vertical, so each must carry greater tension to provide the same vertical support. The 120-degree configuration therefore produces higher leg tension.

Question 24Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A lift requires a total load of 8,000 lb at a radius where the crane is rated 10,000 lb only with outriggers fully extended on firm ground. The site provides soft soil. What is the most appropriate action?

  1. Reduce the load by removing the rigging weight
  2. Increase the boom angle to raise capacity
  3. Proceed because the load is below the rated capacity
  4. Use load-spreading mats or improve ground support before lifting Correct answer.

Explanation

The load chart's rating depends on stable support. On soft soil, mats or ground improvement restore the assumed conditions; without them the effective capacity is uncertain and may be below the load.

Question 25Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A load is supported by a four-leg sling, but only three legs are rigged to bear load because the fourth is slack. What tension assumption is most appropriate for capacity checks?

  1. Assume the slack leg carries negative tension
  2. Assume the load is shared equally among all four legs
  3. Assume the load is shared among the three loaded legs Correct answer.
  4. Assume one leg carries the entire load

Explanation

If one leg is slack, it contributes no support, so the load must be carried by the remaining three legs. Capacity checks should use that reduced number of load-bearing legs.

Question 26Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A load weighing 3,200 lb is lifted with a two-leg sling whose legs each make a 30 degree angle with the vertical. What is the approximate tension in each leg?

  1. About 2,770 lb
  2. About 3,200 lb
  3. About 1,600 lb
  4. About 1,850 lb Correct answer.

Explanation

When a load hangs from two symmetric legs, each leg shares half the load, giving 1,600 lb vertical share, and that share is divided by the cosine of the leg angle from vertical. Dividing 1,600 lb by cos 30 degrees (0.866) gives roughly 1,850 lb per leg. Tension always exceeds the vertical share as the legs move away from vertical.

Question 27Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

Which piece of information on a crane load chart must be matched to the actual lift configuration before the chart capacity can be used?

  1. The color code of the boom sections
  2. The date of the last operator certification
  3. The boom length and operating radius Correct answer.
  4. The number of sheaves in the boom head

Explanation

A load chart lists capacities for specific combinations of boom length, radius, and configuration, so the actual boom length and radius of the lift must match a chart entry. Using a capacity from a different radius or boom length can overstate what the crane can safely handle. Other listed items do not define the capacity rating.

Question 28Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A load is lifted using a three-leg bridle where the legs are at equal angles and the load's center of gravity is centered. What share of the load is normally assumed to be carried by each leg?

  1. The full load on each leg
  2. One-third of the load on each leg Correct answer.
  3. One-half of the load on each leg
  4. Two-thirds of the load on each leg

Explanation

For a symmetric bridle with a centered center of gravity, the load is assumed to be distributed equally among the legs. With three legs, each is taken as carrying one-third of the load before adjusting for the angle from vertical. This even distribution is a planning assumption, not a guarantee in service.

Question 29Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A rigger must choose a shackle for a lift where the load line will pull at an angle across the shackle bow rather than straight in line with the pin. What should the rigger do?

  1. Choose a larger-diameter pin of the same body size
  2. Use the same working load limit as for an in-line pull
  3. Ignore the angle because shackles are not direction-sensitive
  4. Use a shackle rated for the reduced capacity at that angle Correct answer.

Explanation

A shackle's working load limit applies to an in-line pull along the shackle's centerline. When the load is applied at an angle, side loading reduces the safe capacity, so the rigger must account for that reduction or select a shackle rated for the angled loading. Ignoring the angle can overload the shackle.

Question 30Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

What is the primary purpose of placing blocking or matting under a crane's outrigger floats?

  1. To spread the load over a larger ground area Correct answer.
  2. To reduce the amount of counterweight needed
  3. To keep the outrigger floats clean during operation
  4. To raise the crane so the boom can reach higher

Explanation

Outrigger floats concentrate the crane's weight and load reaction on a small footprint. Blocking or matting spreads that force over a larger area, lowering the pressure on the supporting soil and reducing the risk of settlement or tip-over. The goal is ground bearing pressure control, not height or counterweight.

Question 31Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A load of 5,000 lb is supported by a single vertical sling leg and a second leg at 60 degrees from vertical. Approximately how much of the load does the angled leg carry?

  1. About 2,500 lb
  2. About 5,000 lb
  3. About 1,440 lb
  4. About 2,890 lb Correct answer.

Explanation

With one vertical leg and one angled leg, the vertical leg carries the portion of the load not taken vertically by the angled leg. Solving the force balance gives the angled leg roughly 2,890 lb, which is more than half the load because its angle reduces its vertical efficiency. The vertical leg carries the remainder, about 2,110 lb.

Question 32Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

What does the term working load limit mean for a piece of rigging hardware?

  1. The load that causes permanent deformation
  2. The maximum load the hardware should carry in service Correct answer.
  3. The load at which the hardware will fail completely
  4. The load at which the hardware was proof tested

Explanation

The working load limit is the maximum load that the hardware is rated to carry under normal service conditions. It is derived from the hardware's strength divided by a design factor, providing a margin below the failure point. It is not the proof-test load or the breaking load.

Question 33Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A crane is set up on firm ground, but the load chart capacity at the required radius is 9,000 lb and the total load is 8,100 lb. Which additional check is most important before proceeding?

  1. Checking the crane's paint condition
  2. Confirming the boom angle is within the chart's published range Correct answer.
  3. Verifying the operator's break schedule
  4. Counting the number of bolts on the turntable

Explanation

Even when the load is below the chart capacity, the lift must fall within the chart's stated limits, including boom angle and boom length ranges. Operating outside those limits means the chart value does not apply. The other items do not affect whether the chart capacity is valid for this lift.

Question 34Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A load is rigged with slings that form a very shallow angle with the horizontal. What is the main consequence for the sling legs?

  1. Tension in the legs increases sharply as the angle flattens Correct answer.
  2. Tension in the legs stays the same regardless of angle
  3. Tension in the legs depends only on the sling color code
  4. Tension in the legs decreases as the angle flattens

Explanation

As sling legs approach horizontal, the vertical component of each leg's force becomes small, so each leg must generate a much larger tension to support the same vertical load. This is why shallow sling angles create very high leg tensions and are usually avoided. The effect is a sharp increase, not a decrease or a constant value.

Question 35Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A load has its center of gravity offset so that one of two sling legs carries 80 percent of the load. If the total load is 4,000 lb, what load should be planned for that leg before angle adjustment?

  1. 4,000 lb
  2. 800 lb
  3. 2,000 lb
  4. 3,200 lb Correct answer.

Explanation

When the center of gravity is offset, the load is not shared equally, and the leg nearest the center of gravity carries the larger share. Eighty percent of 4,000 lb is 3,200 lb, which is the vertical share that leg must support before any increase for sling angle. Planning for an even split would dangerously understate the demand.

Question 36Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

Which action best reduces the risk of a load tipping or rotating during a lift?

  1. Increasing the lifting speed to shorten exposure
  2. Rigging the slings to the lightest corner of the load
  3. Using a single sling leg for simplicity
  4. Attaching the hook above the load's center of gravity Correct answer.

Explanation

Placing the hook above the center of gravity keeps the load balanced beneath the lifting point, so it tends to hang level rather than tip. If the hook is offset from the center of gravity, the load will rotate until the center of gravity is under the hook. The other actions increase risk rather than reduce it.

Question 37Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A crane's load chart gives a capacity of 6,000 lb at a 50 ft radius. The total load is 5,400 lb, but the site plan shows the crane will operate on a slope. What is the most appropriate response?

  1. Consult the manufacturer's requirements for levelness and reevaluate the lift Correct answer.
  2. Reduce the boom length without changing anything else
  3. Proceed because the load is under the chart capacity
  4. Add counterweight to offset the slope

Explanation

Load charts are based on the crane being set up level within the manufacturer's tolerance. Operating on a slope can reduce stability and invalidate the chart capacity, so the manufacturer's levelness requirements must be checked and the lift reassessed. Being below the chart value does not by itself make a sloped setup acceptable.

Question 38Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

What is the effect of increasing the number of parts of line in a crane's hoist reeving?

  1. It has no effect on line pull
  2. It decreases the line pull required for a given load Correct answer.
  3. It changes the load chart capacity directly
  4. It increases the line pull required for a given load

Explanation

More parts of line share the load among more rope segments, so the pull on the hoist line for a given load is reduced. This is why heavy lifts often use multiple parts of line. The load chart capacity itself is set by the crane's structure and geometry, not simply by reeving.

Question 39Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

A load is suspended by a sling that contacts a sharp steel corner. What is the most appropriate protective measure?

  1. Place softeners or corner protectors between the sling and the edge Correct answer.
  2. Increase the lifting speed to reduce contact time
  3. Use a longer sling so the contact point moves
  4. Reduce the load weight by half

Explanation

Sharp edges can cut or abrade sling material and reduce its strength, so softeners or corner protectors are placed between the sling and the edge to distribute the contact force. This protects the sling from damage during the lift. Speed, sling length, and load weight changes do not address the edge contact hazard.

Question 40Rigging Safety and Load Calculations

Two cranes will lift a single load together. Which planning element is most critical to keep each crane within its capacity?

  1. Assigning one crane to carry the entire load
  2. Using cranes of different capacities without coordination
  3. Raising one crane faster than the other
  4. Determining load share and keeping the load level during the lift Correct answer.

Explanation

In a two-crane lift, the load share carried by each crane depends on rigging geometry and on keeping the load level; if the load tilts, one crane can take far more than its planned share. The lift plan must define load share and control load levelness throughout. Letting one crane take the whole load or lifting at different rates can overload a crane.

Question 41Sling Selection, Inspection, and Use

What does the working load limit (WLL) of a sling represent?

  1. The weight of the sling itself plus its fittings
  2. The load at which the sling's hardware begins to visibly deform
  3. The average load the sling carried during proof testing
  4. The maximum load the sling may lift under the stated hitch and angle conditions Correct answer.

Explanation

The working load limit is the maximum mass a sling is rated to support in a specific configuration, already including the design factor applied to its breaking strength. It changes with hitch type and sling angle, so the rated value must match the actual rigging setup.

Question 42Sling Selection, Inspection, and Use

A wire rope sling shows several broken outer wires clustered in one strand near the fitting. What is the correct action?

  1. Remove it from service and tag it as defective Correct answer.
  2. Wrap the area with tape and continue lifting at half capacity
  3. Continue use but inspect the sling before each shift
  4. Return it to service if the breaks are shorter than one lay length

Explanation

Clustered wire breaks in a single strand concentrate the loss of strength and are a removal criterion for wire rope slings. The sling must be taken out of service, tagged, and referred for evaluation rather than returned to work at reduced capacity.

Question 43Sling Selection, Inspection, and Use

A chain sling tag is missing and the chain's history is unknown. How should it be treated?

  1. Removed from service until identified and rated Correct answer.
  2. Rated at the capacity of the nearest matching chain size
  3. Used only for lifts below 500 kg
  4. Used after a visual check for stretch

Explanation

An unmarked chain sling cannot be verified for grade, capacity, or prior damage, so it must be withdrawn until it can be identified and rated by a competent person. Visual checks alone cannot establish grade or load history.

Question 44Sling Selection, Inspection, and Use

Which hitch distributes load so that the sling legs carry the load in compression-free tension with the load bearing on the sling body?

  1. Basket hitch Correct answer.
  2. Vertical hitch
  3. Choker hitch
  4. Double-wrap choker

Explanation

In a basket hitch the sling passes under the load and both legs pull upward, so the sling body supports the load without crushing it against itself. This configuration typically provides the highest capacity of the common hitches when legs are vertical.

Question 45Sling Selection, Inspection, and Use

What is the primary purpose of a softener or wear pad between a sling and a load edge?

  1. To protect the sling and load from abrasion and cutting Correct answer.
  2. To increase the rated capacity of the sling
  3. To shorten the effective length of the sling
  4. To convert a choker hitch into a basket hitch

Explanation

Edge protection spreads contact pressure and prevents sharp corners from cutting or abrading the sling body. It preserves the sling's integrity but does not change its rated capacity or configuration.

Question 46Sling Selection, Inspection, and Use

A synthetic web sling is rated 2,000 kg in a vertical hitch. Approximately what capacity applies in a choker hitch?

  1. 1,600 kg Correct answer.
  2. 2,800 kg
  3. 2,000 kg
  4. 1,400 kg

Explanation

A choker hitch on a web sling typically reduces capacity to about 80 percent of the vertical rating because the sling is compressed and bent through its own eye. Applying the standard choker factor to 2,000 kg gives roughly 1,600 kg.

Question 47Sling Selection, Inspection, and Use

Which condition on a synthetic web sling requires immediate removal from service?

  1. Loose surface fuzz from normal wear
  2. A label that is legible but slightly creased
  3. Faded dye on the outer cover
  4. Charred or melted fibers from heat exposure Correct answer.

Explanation

Heat damage such as charring or melting weakens synthetic fibers in ways that cannot be seen internally, so the sling must be retired. Fading, creasing, and minor surface fuzz do not by themselves indicate loss of strength.

Question 48Sling Selection, Inspection, and Use

Before a lift, what should be confirmed about the sling's identification tag?

  1. That it records the date of the last lift
  2. That it has been signed by the crane operator
  3. That it shows the rated capacity and reach or size Correct answer.
  4. That it lists the manufacturer's address

Explanation

The tag must allow the user to confirm rated capacity and the sling's size or reach so the lift can be planned against known limits. Missing or illegible capacity information makes the sling unusable until re-identified.

Question 49Sling Selection, Inspection, and Use

Two single-leg slings are used in a bridle at 60 degrees from horizontal. Compared with a vertical hitch, each leg's share of the load is:

  1. Increased, because the sling angle reduces vertical support Correct answer.
  2. Unchanged, because two legs split the load evenly
  3. Unchanged, because the angle does not affect tension
  4. Decreased, because the load is shared by two legs

Explanation

As the angle from horizontal decreases, the vertical component of each leg's tension falls, so each leg must carry more tension to support the same load. At 60 degrees the tension in each leg exceeds its simple share of the weight.

Question 50Sling Selection, Inspection, and Use

A load of 4,000 kg is supported by two symmetrical slings at 45 degrees from horizontal. What is the approximate tension in each leg?

  1. 1,410 kg
  2. 4,000 kg
  3. 2,000 kg
  4. 2,830 kg Correct answer.

Explanation

Each leg's vertical share is 2,000 kg, and dividing by the sine of 45 degrees (about 0.707) gives roughly 2,830 kg of tension per leg. Shallow angles sharply increase leg tension, which is why capacity tables are consulted.