A steel cable with a radius of 1.5 cm supports a chairlift at a ski area. If the maximum stress is not to exceed 108 N m–2, what is the maximum load the cable can support?
Given data,
Radius of the steel cable. R = 1.5 cm = 0.015 m
Maximum allowable stress = 108 Nm-2
Maximum stress = Maximum force/Area of cross-section
Here, Area of steel cable, A = π r2 = π (0.015)2
⇒ Maximum force = Maximum stress × Area of cross-section.
⇒ Maximum force = 108 Nm-2× π (0.015 m)2
⇒ Maximum force = 7.065× 104 N
Hence, the cable can support maximum load of 7.065× 104 N