If the crane's jib is offset 5 degrees as opposed to an original 15 degrees, and the boom angle remains constant, what would you expect the load radius to do?

When the jib of the crane is adjusted to an offset of 5 degrees from an original 15 degrees while keeping the boom angle constant, the load radius is expected to decrease. This is because the load radius is influenced by the angle of the jib in relation to the boom.

When the jib is offset to a smaller angle, it effectively reduces the horizontal distance from the crane's center of rotation to the point where the load is being lifted. A smaller jib angle means that the load is closer to the base of the crane, resulting in a shorter load radius compared to a larger jib angle, which would extend the load further from the crane.

Maintaining a constant boom angle reinforces this concept, as changes in the jib offset directly impact the positioning of the load without altering the vertical lift capabilities determined by the boom angle. Therefore, with a shift from 15 degrees to 5 degrees on the jib, the load radius indeed decreases because the load is positioned nearer to the crane's center of rotation.

This highlights the importance of understanding how jib angles interact with load radii to ensure safe and effective crane operations.