Two teams, competing in tug-of-war, apply forces equal in magnitude to it a) What is the resultant of these forces?

Two teams, competing in tug-of-war, apply forces equal in magnitude to it
a) What is the resultant of these forces?
b) The rope broke when both teams pulled it with 800 N forces. Can one team break the rope by applying 800 N force?

a) 0; b) can. Solution, a) The resultant of two equal in magnitude and oppositely directed forces is zero, b) If one end of the rope is tied to a pole and the other is pulled with a force of 800 N, then according to Newton’s third law, the pole will also act on the rope with a force of 800 N. Thus thus, the same forces will act on the rope as the two teams applied; therefore, one team can break the rope.