If two people pull with a force of $1000\ \mathrm{N}$ each on opposite ends of a rope and neither person moves, what is the magnitude of tension in the rope?
A) $0\ \mathrm{N}$
B) $500\ \mathrm{N}$
C) $1000\ \mathrm{N}$
D) $2000\ \mathrm{N}$
A) $0\ \mathrm{N}$
B) $500\ \mathrm{N}$
C) $1000\ \mathrm{N}$
D) $2000\ \mathrm{N}$
Just focus on one end of the rope. Nothing is moving, so the net force must be $0$. If a person pulls with a force of $1000\ \mathrm{N}$ and nothing moves, then the resulting tension must also be $1000\ \mathrm{N}$. Additionally, tension is a constant magnitude throughout a string. The direction of the tension can change (as in the case of a pulley system), but the magnitude will remain the same.