In order to prevent muscle contraction from misaligning bones during healing (which can cause a permanent limp), injured or broken legs must be supported horizontally and at the same time kept under tension (traction) directed along the leg. One version of a device to accomplish this aim, the Russell traction apparatus, is shown in Figure 3. This system allows the apparatus to support the full weight of the injured leg and at the same time provide the traction along the leg. If the leg to be supported weighs 47.0 N, (a) what must be the weight of WW and (b) what traction force does this system produce along the leg? [#8 under Chapter 5 Problems on Equilibrium of a Particle]

In order to prevent muscle contraction from misaligning bones during healing (which can cause a permanent limp), injured or broken legs must be supported horizontally and at the same time kept under tension (traction) directed along the leg. One version of a device to accomplish this aim, the Russell traction apparatus, is shown in Figure 3. This system allows the apparatus to support the full weight of the injured leg and at the same time provide the traction along the leg. If the leg to be supported weighs 47.0 N, (a) what must be the weight of WW and (b) what traction force does this system produce along the leg? [#8 under Chapter 5 Problems on Equilibrium of a Particle]