Physics of Rock Climbing

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Recommended: Principles of physics in climbing

Rock climbing is an exciting, but dangerous, sport. Since the 70's, climbing equipment has become more reliable and more safe. The physical laws behind rock climbing have not changed, but engineers have found ways to make safer and more reliable gear to help prevent a climber from falling. Rock climbing is all about physics. The main aspect of rock climbing is gravity. Gravity is what every rock climber faces every time they scale a wall. There are several forces involving rock climbing and they include friction, tensional force, and, of course, gravity.

Friction is very important in rock climbing. If there was not friction, one would not be able to rappel or belay. Friction from the belay device assists in bleeding off some of the energy from a fall. When a person falls, they have potential energy, which is transferred into kinetic energy as the person falls. This energy needs to be absorbed somewhere in order for the climber to survive the fall. Humans can survive no higher than 15 times their weight. Most of this energy is absorbed through the rope.

Ideally, a belay device can dissipate up to 4kN of force from a fall. This varies with the rope age, size, angle of pull, and loading (Hattingh). If the force is greater than the frictional force of the belay device, there is rope slippage. When a belay device is used properly, a belayer can dissipate more energy, while falling, from rope slippage. By letting some rope slip through the belay device, it can absorb some of the energy from the falling climber. Rope slippage lengthens the rope, which allows the rope to stretch, absorbing more energy from the fall. This energy created by the falling climber is mostly transferred into heat. You can tell this bec...

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Hates, Mark. "Frog Butress." (March 17, 2005)

Henderson, Tom. "The Physics Classroom.""Lesson 1: The Impulse-Momentum Change Theorem.." 1996-2004.. (March 14, 2005).

Henderson, Tom. "The Physics Classroom.""Types of Forces." newtlaws/u2l2b.html# tension> 1996-2004.. (March 14, 2005).

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