North Carolina Building Contractor License Practice Exam

Ladders must be sloped at a specific angle where the horizontal distance from the foot of the ladder to the wall is proportional to what?

1. Length of the ladder

2. Height of the wall

3. Weight of the ladder

4. Type of ladder material

The correct answer is: Length of the ladder

Ladders should be set at a specific angle to ensure safety and stability while in use. The standard guideline for ladder placement is that for every four feet of height, the base of the ladder should be one foot away from the wall. This creates an approximate 75-degree angle between the ladder and the ground. The horizontal distance from the foot of the ladder to the wall is directly proportional to the length of the ladder itself. This means that as the length of the ladder increases, the distance from the wall at which the ladder should be placed also increases proportionally. This relationship helps maintain the correct angle, ensuring that the ladder is stable and reducing the risk of it slipping or tipping over. Other factors mentioned, such as the height of the wall, weight of the ladder, or type of ladder material, do not influence the required distance for stability in the same way. The focus is primarily on the ladder’s length in relation to its safe setup angle.