An elevator weighing 200000 N is supported by a steel cable. What is the tension in the cable when the elevator is accelerated upward at a rate of 3 m/s^2? (g = 9.81 m/s^2)
-please don't forget proper units and that weight is different than mass
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2006-10-26 13:44:12 · 2 answers · asked by shelly 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
This is how I would analyze the problem: If the elevator were moving at constant speed, meaning without any acceleration, the tension in the cable would be just equal to the weight of the elevator. But since it is accelerating at 3m/^2 then there is a net force acting on the elevator, and that net force should be added to the weight of the elevator to get the tension in the cable. So first we have to know the weight of the elevator. That's equal to 200,000N.
Next we compute the net force using the formula, F=Ma.
Now remember that M=Weight/g or 200,000/9.81
=20,387kg
Substitute known values:
F=20387*3=61,161N
Therefore, tension=200000+61161
=261,161N
2006-10-28 05:33:20 · answer #1 · answered by tul b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Elevator mass = 200000 N / 9.8 m/s^2 = 20000 Kg
Cable tension must equal the weight of the elevator plus the additional force for the acceleration therefore
200000 N + 20000 Kg x 3 m/s^2 = 260000 N since only 1 significant digit was given for the acceleration and the weight I must assume that only one significant digit can be in the answer soooooo the tension equals 300000 N
2006-10-26 15:02:17 · answer #2 · answered by jwlh_228 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋