Win Tug-of-War: Where to Place Strongest Person & Physics Explained

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In summary: So the rebounding force caused the arm severing. In summary, it's better to put the weaker person in the back, so they don't have to grip the rope so hard.
  • #1
autodidude
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Where is best to put the strongest person on your team if you want to win a tug-of-war and why?

I also heard about a guy who got his arm severed when the rope broke, the snopes site says it was due to the rebounding force of the rope, does this just mean the rope hit his arm ?
 
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  • #2
Without the article to state what actually happened ...

People tend to wrap the rope around the arm for better grip. But if you are one of the up front persons that is a bad thing to do as the rope will have the most tension and could break your arm or if you slip have the arm angled.

A rope under tension stretches - some materials more than others. Hemp or natrural fibers less so than nylons or polyesters. If the rope breaks there is no more tension and the stretch relaxes and that could mangle your arm. The least damage besides no injury could be a severe rope burn.

Try an elastic band - stretch it and let one end go and notice the violent rebound as the elastic relaxes.
 
  • #3
In theory, it does not matter where you put the strong guy. But I've found that he normally does better in the back because he can wrap the rope around his arm in that position, or even around his waste. Either gives him a better grip. But as already mentioned, it is dangerous to wrap the rope around any part of you if you are in any other position than the tail end.
 
  • #4
Pkruse said:
In theory, it does not matter where you put the strong guy. But I've found that he normally does better in the back because he can wrap the rope around his arm in that position, or even around his waste. Either gives him a better grip. But as already mentioned, it is dangerous to wrap the rope around any part of you if you are in any other position than the tail end.

Interesting.. I would have drawn the opposite conclusion.
At the back, because you can wrap the rope around you, strength is largely irrelevant. What you need there is weight, height and shoegrip. You'd likely lose your footing before you ran out of strength to straighten your legs.
At the front, since you have to keep your options open, you rely on hand grip on the rope. That takes strength.
 
  • #5
That also is interesting. I guess that either idea might be valid, depending on how the guy is strong. I've not done much tug of war, but when I work as a rigger we would sometimes put the whole crew on a rope to apply a load to it. We got best results when we put the strong guy in the back. He was a power lifter, so the rest of his body was much stronger than his grip.
 
  • #6
But often the strongest will also be the heaviest, so it's not clear which was important.
 
  • #7
Well, apparently they (there were two people, actually) didn't have the ropes wrapped around their arms (google 'snopes tug-of-war' and it's the first link, but be wary that there is a graphic image on that page).
 

1. What is the best position for the strongest person in a game of tug-of-war?

The best position for the strongest person in a game of tug-of-war is at the back of their team, also known as the anchor position. This allows them to use their strength and weight to pull the rope towards their team's side.

2. Can physics explain why the strongest person should be placed at the back in tug-of-war?

Yes, physics can explain this positioning. According to Newton's Second Law of Motion, force is equal to mass times acceleration. Since the strongest person has the greatest mass and can accelerate the rope towards their team's side, they should be placed at the back to maximize their force.

3. How does the placement of the strongest person affect the outcome of a game of tug-of-war?

The placement of the strongest person greatly affects the outcome of a game of tug-of-war. Placing them at the back gives their team a mechanical advantage, making it easier for them to pull the rope towards their side and win the game.

4. Is there a certain body type or strength level that is most effective for the strongest person in tug-of-war?

There is no specific body type or strength level that is most effective for the strongest person in tug-of-war. However, individuals with greater muscle mass and overall strength tend to perform better in this position due to their ability to generate more force and pull the rope towards their team's side.

5. Are there any other factors besides the placement of the strongest person that can affect the outcome of a game of tug-of-war?

Yes, there are other factors that can affect the outcome of a game of tug-of-war. These include the number of people on each team, the weight and strength of each individual, the type of rope used, and the grip and technique of each team member. The placement of the strongest person is just one of many important factors in winning a game of tug-of-war.

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