Scribd
Upload
16 views2 pages

Scale Readings in Elevator Scenarios

The document contains tutorial problems from a physics course, covering topics such as weight, normal force, tension in ropes, acceleration of blocks, and forces in towing scenarios. Each problem includes specific scenarios with given masses and conditions, along with the corresponding answers. The problems are designed to apply principles of mechanics and forces in various contexts.

Uploaded by

mfaiz232
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
16 views2 pages

Scale Readings in Elevator Scenarios

The document contains tutorial problems from a physics course, covering topics such as weight, normal force, tension in ropes, acceleration of blocks, and forces in towing scenarios. Each problem includes specific scenarios with given masses and conditions, along with the corresponding answers. The problems are designed to apply principles of mechanics and forces in various contexts.

Uploaded by

mfaiz232
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

FSPZ0014 PHYSICS I Tutorial 3

Chapter 3

1. A 20.0-kg box rests on a table. (a) What is the


weight of the box and the normal force acting on
it? (b) A 10.0-kg box is placed on top of the 20.0-
kg box, as shown in Figure 1. Determine the
normal force that the table exerts on the 20.0-kg
box and the normal force that the 20.0-kg box Figure 1
exerts on the 10.0-kg box.

[Ans: (a) 196 N, 196 N (b) 98.0 N, 294.0 N]

2. Arlene is to walk across a “high wire” strung


horizontally between two buildings 10.0 m
apart. The sag in the rope when she is at the
midpoint is 10.0°, as shown in Figure 2. If her
mass is 50.0 kg, what is the tension in the rope Figure 2
at this point?

[Ans: 1410 N]

3. Figure 3 shows a block (mass) on a smooth horizontal


surface, connected by a thin cord that passes over a
pulley to a second block which hangs vertically.

(a) If mA = 13 kg and mB =5 kg determine the


acceleration of each block.
(b) If initially mA is at rest 1.250 m from the edge of
the table, how long does it take to reach the edge of
the table if the system is allowed to move freely?
Figure 3
(c) If mB =5 kg, how large must be if the acceleration
of the system is to be kept at 0.01g? [Ans: (a) 2.7 ms-2 (b) 0.96 s (c) 99 kg]

4. Two snowcats in Antarctica are towing a housing unit


north, as shown in Figure 4. The sum of the forces FA
and FB exerted on the unit by the horizontal cables
is parallel to the line L, and FA= 4500 N.
Determine: (a) FB and (b) the magnitude of FA + FB.

Figure 4
[Ans: (a) 6.3 103 N (b) 6.3 103 N]

Credit: Physics for scientists & Engineers with modern physics – Giancoli
@ RZjuly19
5. An object is hanging by a string from your rearview mirror as shown in Figure 5.
While you are accelerating at a constant rate from rest to 28 m s in 6.0 s, what angle 
does the string make with the vertical?

Figure 5
[Ans: 25]

6. A 75.0-kg person stands on a scale in an elevator. What does the scale read (in N and
in kg) when :
(a) the elevator is at rest.
(b) the elevator is climbing at a constant speed of 3.0 ms-1.
(c) the elevator is descending at 3.0 ms-1.
(d) the elevator is accelerating upward at 3.0 ms-2.
(e) the elevator is accelerating downward at 3.0 ms-2.

[Ans: (a) 735 N, 75 kg (b) 735 N, 75 kg (c) 735 N, 75 kg (d) 960 N, 98 kg


(e) 510 N, 52 kg]

Credit: Physics for scientists & Engineers with modern physics – Giancoli
@ RZjuly19

Common questions

Powered by AI

As Arlene moves towards the center, the tension in the rope increases due to a larger component of her weight being supported directly by the vertical components of tension. Initially, tension aligns more horizontally near the ends but becomes increasingly vertical as she reaches the midpoint, maximizing tension there and proportional to her weight (50.0 kg) and the angle of sagging at center of 10.0°, calculated as sin component balancing her weight .

The normal force exerted on the 20.0-kg box by the table is 294.0 N. This is because the weight of both the 20.0-kg box and the 10.0-kg box must be supported by the table, which means the table exerts a normal force equal to their combined weight. The combined weight is (20.0 kg + 10.0 kg) * 9.8 m/s² = 294.0 N .

When the elevator accelerates upwards at 3.0 m/s², the scale reads more than the actual weight due to increased normal force: scale reads (75.0 kg * (9.8 + 3.0) m/s² = 960 N). Conversely, when accelerating downwards at 3.0 m/s², the scale reads less: scale reads (75.0 kg * (9.8 - 3.0) m/s² = 510 N). In both cases, the acceleration affects the normal force exerted by the scale .

The scale's reading changes based on the elevator's motion: at rest or constant speed, it matches the gravitational force (75.0 kg * 9.8 m/s² = 735 N). Accelerating upwards increases the reading due to increased net force required to accelerate upwards: (75.0 kg * (9.8 + 3.0) m/s² = 960 N). If accelerating downwards, the net force decreases the reading: (75.0 kg * (9.8 - 3.0) m/s² = 510 N). Observing these fluctuations can effectively determine both acceleration and direction .

The angle θ that the string makes with the vertical is determined by the ratio of horizontal acceleration to gravitational acceleration. The car’s acceleration a = (28 m/s) / 6.0 s = 4.67 m/s². The tangent of the angle θ is given by tan(θ) = a/g = 4.67/9.8, which gives θ = tan⁻¹(4.67/9.8) ≈ 25° .

To determine the tension, one can use the weight of the person and the sag angle. The vertical component of the tension (T*sin(10°)) must equal the weight of the person (50.0 kg * 9.8 m/s² = 490 N). Solving for T gives T = 490 N / sin(10°) = 2810 N .

The acceleration of the system is influenced by the net force and total mass. For a system with masses mA and mB, increasing the mass of mB increases the force due to gravity, hence increasing the system acceleration: a = mB*g/(mA+mB). Conversely, increasing mA reduces acceleration as more force is needed to move a larger mass. To maintain a specific acceleration, one could adjust mB so that a = 0.01g, requiring: mB = desired a*(mA+unknown mass)/g = 99 kg when a = 0.01g .

The acceleration of the system can be calculated using Newton's second law. The net force on the system is the weight of the hanging block, so F_net = mB*g = 5 kg * 9.8 m/s² = 49 N. The total mass of the system is mA + mB = 18 kg. Thus, a = F_net / (mA + mB) = 49 N / 18 kg = 2.7 m/s². The time to reach the edge of the table is found using the equation: d = 0.5*a*t², rearranging gives t = sqrt(2*d/a) = sqrt(2*1.250 m / 2.7 m/s²) = 0.96 s .

The sum of the forces supplied by the two snowcats is such that the net force maintains the direction along the desired towing line, ensuring parallelism to line L. Each force contributes to the overall vector, and adjustments in either force component affect both magnitude and directional properties of the resultant, keeping FA + FB magnitude at 6.3 x 10³ N, directly impacting towing efficacy and unit stability .

The force FB required to maintain equilibrium must be such that the resultant of FA and FB is parallel to line L. Given that the magnitude of FA + FB is 6.3 x 10³ N, and assuming the angle between FA and FB allows for this sum to align with L, FB can be solved from the vector equation. Since |FA + FB| = 6300 N and FA = 4500 N, FB must be 6300 N for equilibrium in this context .

You might also like