🔍 Key Concepts

• Breaking strain vs. safe working load (SWL) – how they are related through a safety factor • Safety factor of 5 – what that means in terms of dividing or multiplying • Typical practice: SWL is a fraction of the breaking strain for safety

💭 Think About

• If a line will fail at 15,000 lbs, and you want a safety factor of 5, should your working load be bigger or smaller than 15,000 lbs? • How do you turn a safety factor into a simple math operation with the breaking strain? • Look at the answer choices: which are clearly too high (unsafe) or unrealistically larger than the breaking strain?

✅ Before You Answer

• Be sure whether you should divide or multiply the breaking strain by the safety factor. • Confirm the SWL must be less than the breaking strain when a safety factor is used. • Check that the chosen answer is a realistic fraction (1/5) of 15,000 lbs.