Question

In a tug of war, two men each pull on the rope with $400N$ forces in opposite directions. The tension in the rope is____ .

Answer 1

1. Let us take the system as the whole rope.
2. Since, the tension becomes an internal force now, $400N$ forces on both sides of the rope balance each other.
3. We don't have to analyze the tension forces, as it is an internal force for the above case.
4. Now, cut the rope into two halves, and let the tension $T$ be there, which one half applies on the other half.
5. This $T$ has to be equal to $400N$ for the rope to be in equilibrium.

Hence, the tension in the rope is $\mathbf{400}\mathbf{}\mathit{N}$.