Synthetic fire rope, compared to natural rope of equal strength, has what characteristic?

• A. It has a smaller diameter than natural rope of equal strength
• B. It is weaker
• C. It is heavier
• D. It has more stretch

Answer: (A)

Synthetic fire rope uses fibers that have a much higher tensile strength per cross‑section than natural fibers. Because of that, you can achieve the same breaking strength with a rope that has a smaller diameter. In other words, for equal strength, the material allows a thinner rope without sacrificing safety. It isn’t weaker or heavier, and while stretch depends on the specific fiber, the key point is that the same strength can be carried in a thinner rope with synthetic fibers.