The force on the anchor becomes greater than the load when the angle exceeds how many degrees?

The force on the anchor becomes greater than the load when the angle exceeds how many degrees?

• A. 120 degrees
• B. 60 degrees
• C. 180 degrees
• D. 30 degrees

Answer: (A)

Key idea: anchor load rises as the two rope legs pull at wider angles. The anchor must resist the combined effect of two tensions pulling in different directions, and as those directions spread apart, the resultant force the anchor feels grows relative to the straight-down load. In practice, a common rule-of-thumb is that once the angle between the legs passes about 120 degrees, the force the anchor must take on becomes greater than the vertical load you’re lifting or moving. That’s why, in rope work, you’re advised to keep anchor angles smaller than that threshold or reconfigure the setup to prevent overstressing the anchor. Keep in mind that real-world factors like dynamic loading, friction, and unequal tensions can shift loads, but the 120-degree mark serves as a helpful practical guideline.

Key idea: anchor load rises as the two rope legs pull at wider angles. The anchor must resist the combined effect of two tensions pulling in different directions, and as those directions spread apart, the resultant force the anchor feels grows relative to the straight-down load. In practice, a common rule-of-thumb is that once the angle between the legs passes about 120 degrees, the force the anchor must take on becomes greater than the vertical load you’re lifting or moving. That’s why, in rope work, you’re advised to keep anchor angles smaller than that threshold or reconfigure the setup to prevent overstressing the anchor. Keep in mind that real-world factors like dynamic loading, friction, and unequal tensions can shift loads, but the 120-degree mark serves as a helpful practical guideline.