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An elevator cab is pulled upward by a cable. The cab and its single occupant have a combined mass of \(2000 \mathrm{~kg}\). When that occupant drops a coin, its acceleration relative to the cab is \(8.00 \mathrm{~m} / \mathrm{s}^{2}\) downward. What is the tension in the cable?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The tension in the cable is 23240 N.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the forces acting on the system

There are two main forces acting on the system consisting of the cab and its occupant: the gravitational force (weight) acting downward, and the tension in the cable (T) acting upward. The gravitational force can be calculated using \( F_{g} = m imes g \) where \( m = 2000 \; \text{kg} \) is the mass of the system and \( g = 9.81 \; \text{m/s}^2 \) is the acceleration due to gravity.
02

Compute the gravitational force

Using the formula for gravitational force, \( F_{g} = m imes g \), we plug in our values: \( m = 2000 \; \text{kg} \) and \( g = 9.81 \; \text{m/s}^2 \). This means \( F_{g} = 2000 \; \text{kg} imes 9.81 \; \text{m/s}^2 = 19620 \; \text{N} \).
03

Determine the net acceleration and direction

The problem states that the coin's acceleration relative to the cab is \( 8.00 \; \text{m/s}^2 \) downward. This indicates that the actual acceleration of the system (cab plus coin) is upward, as the coin’s relative downward acceleration is less than the standard gravitational acceleration of \(9.81 \; \text{m/s}^2\). The system's net acceleration is therefore \( a = g - 8.00 \; \text{m/s}^2 = 1.81 \; \text{m/s}^2 \) upward.
04

Apply Newton's Second Law to solve for tension

According to Newton's Second Law, the net force acting on the system is \( F_{net} = m imes a \). Therefore, the tension in the cable (T) acting upwards minus the gravitational force (\( F_{g} \)) gives \( F_{net} \). Thus, \( T - 19620 \; \text{N} = 2000 \; \text{kg} imes 1.81 \; \text{m/s}^2 \).
05

Calculate the tension in the cable

Simplify the equation from Step 4 to solve for \( T \):\[ T = 2000 \times 1.81 + 19620 \] \[ T = 3620 + 19620 \] \[ T = 23240 \; \text{N} \]. The tension in the cable is thus \( 23240 \; \text{N} \).

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Newton's Second Law
Newton's Second Law of Motion is central to understanding the motion of objects under various forces. This law states that the net force acting on an object is equal to the product of its mass and acceleration. In formula terms, it is given as:
  • \( F_{net} = m \times a \)
For our elevator scenario, it helps us analyze how the forces on the system (elevator and cab) determine the tension in the cable.
This law allows us to relate the forces acting on the cab to its motion. By determining the net force, we can derive other unknown forces, like the tension, which is crucial for understanding how physical systems behave.
It explains that constant forces result in constant acceleration, affecting how we calculate responses in physical systems.
Gravitational Force
Gravitational force is the attractive force exerted by the Earth on all objects. It acts downward and can significantly affect how systems behave under motion. The gravitational force is calculated with:
  • \( F_{g} = m \times g \)
Where \( m \) is the mass and \( g \) is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately \( 9.81 \; \text{m/s}^2 \)).
In the elevator exercise, the gravitational force acting on the cab and its occupant is \( 19620 \; \text{N} \), reflecting the pull toward Earth's center.
Understanding gravitational force is vital when calculating other forces, like tension, because it contributes significantly to the net force acting on a system.
Net Force
Net force is the total force acting on an object, which results in its motion. It is the vector sum of all forces, considering both magnitude and direction.
In the case of the elevator, net force determines the acceleration and is given by:
  • \( F_{net} = T - F_{g} \)
Here, tension acts upward, and gravitational force acts downward.
Net force allows us to understand how different forces interact to cause motion or equilibrium in systems.
The net force in the elevator scenario helps us solve for the tension needed in the cable to achieve the specified motion.
Acceleration
Acceleration measures how quickly an object changes its velocity. In physics, it is always linked to the forces acting on the object. In our example, the acceleration experienced by the elevator is slightly less than gravity due to the forces working against it.
When the problem states the coin's relative acceleration is \( 8.00 \; \text{m/s}^2 \) downward, it implies that the cab's overall acceleration is upward at about \( 1.81 \; \text{m/s}^2 \).
Acceleration is essential in calculating forces exerted on a system. It plays a critical role in determining how the forces like gravitational force and tension interact to influence the motion of objects under the application of external forces.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A \(10 \mathrm{~kg}\) monkey climbs up a massless rope that runs over a frictionless tree limb and back down to a \(15 \mathrm{~kg}\) package on the ground (Fig. 5-54). (a) What is the magnitude of the least acceleration the monkey must have if it is to lift the package off the ground? If, after the package has been lifted, the monkey stops its climb and holds onto the rope, what are the (b) mag. nitude and (c) direction of the monkey's acceleration and (d) the tension in the rope?

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