During a lift, a crane operator notices that the sling legs in a multi-leg bridle sling are at a very wide angle, estimated to be 120 degrees at the hook (60 degrees from vertical for each leg). The total load is 4,000 kg. How would this angle affect the tension in each sling leg compared to a narrower angle?

Question: During a lift, a crane operator notices that the sling legs in a multi-leg bridle sling are at a very wide angle, estimated to be 120 degrees at the hook (60 degrees from vertical for each leg). The total load is 4,000 kg. How would this angle affect the tension in each sling leg compared to a narrower angle?

Answer options:

• The tension in each leg would decrease significantly.
• The tension in each leg would remain the same, regardless of angle. ✅ The tension in each leg would increase significantly.
• The tension would only be affected if the load shifted.

Correct answer: The tension in each leg would increase significantly.

Explanation: As the angle between the sling legs at the hook increases (i.e., the angle from vertical for each leg increases), the tension in each sling leg increases significantly for a given load. This is because the vertical component of the tension in each leg must still support the load, and a larger angle means a smaller vertical component for the same tension.