The most precise way to calculate the tension on a sling involves ?

• A. a load triangle
• B. a vertical hitch
• C. using angles less than 90°
• D. using angles more than 90°

Answer: (A)

Resolving sling forces with a load triangle lets you apply vector balance to determine tensions precisely. The weight acts downward and the tensions in the slings act along their lines toward the load; at the load point these forces must balance. By drawing a triangle where the sides correspond to the two sling tensions and the load, you can use trigonometry to relate the known load to the unknown tensions. In a typical two-sling setup with the load centered, each sling carries T = W / (2 sin(θ/2)), where θ is the angle between the two slings. This shows how the tension depends on the actual geometry: smaller angles between slings increase the required tension dramatically. Other options describe hardware or general angle considerations, but they don’t provide the precise method to compute tensions from the forces and geometry.