To be able to successfully pull the rope with balance,
the work done by person A should be just equal to the work done by person B.
<span>workA = workB
----> 1</span>
Where: work = force * distance
In this case, force = mass * gravity
So work = mass * gravity * distance
Rewriting equation 1:
<span>massA * gravity * distanceA = massB * gravity * distanceB ---->2</span>
We know that distanceA + distanceB = 5 m, therefore
distanceA = 5 – distanceB. Substituting this to equation 2 and cancelling
constant g:
massA * distanceA = massB * distanceB
60 kg * (5 – distanceB) = 40 kg * distanceB
distanceB = 3 m
distanceA = 5 – distanceB = 2 m
<span>ratio
is: distanceA / distanceB = 2/3 = 0.67</span>