In lifting operations, if the sling angle from vertical is increased, the load carried by each sling will do what?

In lifting operations, if the sling angle from vertical is increased, the load carried by each sling will do what?

• A. Increases
• B. Decreases
• C. Stays the same
• D. Varies with angle

Answer: (A)

As the sling angle from vertical increases, the tension each sling must carry goes up. With two slings sharing the load, the vertical lift comes from the vertical component of each sling’s tension, which is T cos theta. The total lift is W = 2 T cos theta, so T = W / (2 cos theta). When theta increases, cos theta decreases, making T larger. So the load (tension) in each sling increases as the angle from vertical grows.

As the sling angle from vertical increases, the tension each sling must carry goes up. With two slings sharing the load, the vertical lift comes from the vertical component of each sling’s tension, which is T cos theta. The total lift is W = 2 T cos theta, so T = W / (2 cos theta). When theta increases, cos theta decreases, making T larger. So the load (tension) in each sling increases as the angle from vertical grows.