Lyzinski Physics

Solutions to Elevator Problems Worksheet

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1a. FN = Wapp 1b)

FN = Wapp Fnet  ma
Wapp  mg  ma
m m a Wapp  m( g  a )
 (40kg)(9.8 sm2  2 sm2 )
 472 N
Fg = mg Fg = mg

1c) 1d)
FN = Wapp Fnet  ma W  mg  (40kg)(9.8 sm2 )  392 N
mg  Wapp  ma

m a Wapp  m( g  a) Since the mans actual weight and his

 (40kg)(9.8 sm2  2 sm2 ) apparent weight are the same, the
elevator must nopt be accleratin g.
 312 N
Fg = mg Therefore, it is either at rest or at
constant velocity.

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2a) T
Fnet  ma
T  mg  ma
m a T  mg
a
m
279 N  (20kg)(9.8 sm2 )
  4.15 sm2 upward
Fg = mg 20kg

2b)
a chand rel to floor  9.8 sm2  6.2 sm2  16 sm2

d  4m, a  16 sm2 , v1  0, t  ?

2d
d  12 a (t ) 2  v1 t  t   .7 sec
a
3) In order for a passenger in the ship to feel 2 g’s, they must accelerate upward at a
constant 9.8 m/s2.

4a)
Wman  mman g  W  mg  m W  686 N  70 kg
g 9.8 sm2

FN = Wapp
Fnet  ma
mg  Wapp  ma
m a mg  Wapp
a
m
(70kg)(9.8 sm2 )  476 N
  3 sm2 downward
Fg = mg 70kg
The elevator must be accelerati ng downward in order to make the man
" apparently" weigh less.

4b)
v1  0, v 2  12 ms , a  3 sm2

v 2  v1  12 ms  0 ms
v 2  v1  at  t    4 sec
a  3 sm2

5a) W  mg  (100kg)(9. 8 sm2 )  980N

5b) Wapp  m( g  a)  (100kg)(9. 8 sm2  .3 sm2 )  (100kg)(10 .1 sm2 )  1,010 N
5c) Wapp  m( g  a)  (100kg)(9. 8 sm2  .15 sm2 )  (100kg)(9. 65 sm2 )  965 N
5d) At constant velocity, a  0. Therefore, Wapp  W  980 N
5e) During free fall, both the scale and the person drop at the same rate. Therefore, there is
no normal force, and thus the apparenet weight is zero.
6) T
at rest :

m T 98 N
T  mg  m   10 kg
g 9.8 sm2

Fg = mg

T
while accelerati ng :

a m mg  T (10kg)(9.8 s 2 )  93 N
m

mg  T  ma  a   0.5 sm2
m 10kg

Fg = mg
Sine the apparent weight is LESS than the actual weight, the elevator
must be going downward.

7)
Since the elevator is moving upward, Wapp  m( g  a)  1,024  m(9.8 sm2  3 sm2 )
 m  80kg

Fnet  ma  T  Weverything  meverything a  T  (1000  80  10)(9.8)  (1000  80  10)(3)

T  13,952 N

OR T  M (a  g )  (1000  80  10)(3 sm2  9.8 sm2 )  13,952 N