Ropes, cables, wires, and strings on the mcat
On the MCAT:
- Ropes, cables, wires, and strings are just ways to apply forces (except when they’re vibrating…).
- The force on a rope etc. is always applied along the line of the rope, and it is the same in both directions. It is equal to, by definition, the tension on the rope.
- The amount of force, i.e., the tension, is the same throughout the rope. In particular, it is the same on each side of a pulley.
