Man vs Iron Weight: Understanding Acceleration in UAH PDF

In summary, on page 2 of the pdf, there is an example that compares a man pulling on a rope with a 600N force to an iron weight of 60Kg (g = 10) tied to the rope. The difference is that the iron weight generates less acceleration once the system starts moving. The tension in the rope is the force that pulls the cart, but if the cart is accelerating, the tension cannot equal the weight of the hanging mass. The explanation given states that the tension is less than 600 N when the weight is accelerating downward.
  • #1
Emanresu
53
0
http://www2.uah.es/jmc/ai14.pdf

On page 2 of the above pdf there is an example in a box with title 'Acceleration'
which states that there is a difference between a man pulling on a rope with 600N force and an iron weight of 60Kg (g = 10) tied to the rope. The difference being that once the system starts moving the iron weight generates less acceleration. I don't understand the explanation given. Could someone please explain in a different way.

Thanks,

E.
 
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  • #2
What pulls the cart is the tension in the rope. Which case produces the greater tension? Hint: If the cart is accelerating, can the tension equal the weight of the hanging mass?
 
  • #3
Emanresu said:
http://www2.uah.es/jmc/ai14.pdf

On page 2 of the above pdf there is an example in a box with title 'Acceleration'
which states that there is a difference between a man pulling on a rope with 600N force and an iron weight of 60Kg (g = 10) tied to the rope. The difference being that once the system starts moving the iron weight generates less acceleration. I don't understand the explanation given. Could someone please explain in a different way.

Thanks,

E.

The man keeps applying a force of 600 N.

Now consider the weight as it is falling. What is the tension in the rope? Since the weight is accelerating downward, the tension in the rope has to be less than the iron weight therefore the tension is less than 600 N.
 
  • #4
Duh ! It seems so obvious now !

Thanks,

E.
 

1. What is the difference between mass and weight in relation to acceleration?

Mass is the amount of matter an object contains, while weight is the force of gravity acting on that object. Acceleration is a measure of how quickly an object's velocity changes, and it is directly related to the force applied to the object. In the context of "Man vs Iron Weight," the acceleration experienced by the man or iron weight will be the same regardless of their mass or weight.

2. How does the force applied to an object affect its acceleration?

The greater the force applied to an object, the greater its acceleration will be. This is described by Newton's second law of motion, which states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.

3. Can you explain the concept of inertia and how it relates to acceleration?

Inertia is the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. This means that an object at rest will stay at rest, and an object in motion will continue moving at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by an external force. In terms of acceleration, objects with greater inertia will require more force to accelerate them compared to objects with less inertia.

4. How does air resistance affect acceleration in "Man vs Iron Weight"?

In this scenario, air resistance will have a negligible effect on the acceleration of both the man and the iron weight. This is because the force of air resistance is much smaller compared to the force of gravity acting on the objects, and thus can be ignored in this context.

5. What is the relationship between acceleration and velocity?

Acceleration is the rate of change of an object's velocity over time. This means that the greater the acceleration, the faster an object's velocity will change. For example, if an object has a constant acceleration of 2 m/s^2, its velocity will increase by 2 m/s every second.

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