Answer :
Final answer:
The firefighter's weight (196 lbs) pulls them down due to gravity. To counteract this, the pole pushes back with an equal and opposite force (normal force) to hold them up. This pushback force exerted by the pole is what matters, and it's measured in Newtons (N), not pounds (lbs), hence correct answer is b) (196 , textN) of force on the pole.
Explanation:
Weight: The firefighter's weight of 196 (textlb) refers to the force exerted by gravity on the firefighter. This force pulls the firefighter downwards.
Normal Force: The fire pole exerts a force in response to the firefighter's weight. This force acts perpendicular (at 90 degrees) to the surface of the pole, pushing the firefighter up against gravity. This force is called the normal force.
Units: Since weight and normal force are forces, they are measured in Newtons (N) and not pounds (lb).
Other options:
a) (196, textlb) of force on the pole: This is incorrect as explained above, the normal force is a reaction to the weight and acts in the opposite direction (upward).
c) (196, textlb cdot g) and d) (196, textN cdot g): These options introduce an unnecessary term "g" (acceleration due to gravity). While gravity plays a role in creating the firefighter's weight, the normal force itself doesn't directly involve the acceleration due to gravity. It simply pushes back against the firefighter's weight to prevent them from falling through the pole.
The best answer is b) (196 , textN) of force on the pole.
