How Much Tension Is Needed to Lift a 1800 kg Car Upward at 0.60 m/s²?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the tension required in a rope to lift a 1800 kg car vertically upward with an acceleration of 0.60 m/s². Participants are exploring the dynamics of forces acting on the car, including gravitational force and the applied tension.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss using a free body diagram to analyze the forces acting on the car, questioning how to incorporate gravitational force and the net upward acceleration. Some express confusion about the calculations and the assumptions made regarding external factors like air resistance.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their interpretations and attempting to clarify the problem setup. Some have provided insights into the relationship between tension, mass, and acceleration, while others are still seeking clarity on the calculations involved.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of the problem being part of a web-based homework platform, which does not provide answers until after submission. Participants are also questioning whether certain factors, like air friction and the mass of the rope, are being neglected in the problem.

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How much tension must a rope withstand if it is used to accelerate a 1800 kg car vertically upward at 0.60 m/s2?

could someone tell me how to start this problem? thanks so much!
 
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Consider a free body diagram around the car. Net force = mass * accelleration. So you have the tension in the rope and gravity acting on the car, and the total of those must give you an upwards accelleration of 0.6m/s^2
 
i'm still confused with this problem..i thought i could just multiply 1800kg by .60 m/s^2? but i don't get the right answer...

help please!
 
confusedaboutphysics said:
How much tension must a rope withstand if it is used to accelerate a 1800 kg car vertically upward at 0.60 m/s2?

could someone tell me how to start this problem? thanks so much!

Is this problem neglecting air friction and mass of the rope? Also, what's pulling that rope?
 
Last edited:
it doesn't say...its a webassign problem
 
confusedaboutphysics said:
it doesn't say...its a webassign problem

Ok, then what is the answer, if given? Because I got what you got too. I might be missing something
 
sorry...i don't have the answer either..it's due tomorrow night..hmmm...i wander why it won't work...
 
confusedaboutphysics said:
i'm still confused with this problem..i thought i could just multiply 1800kg by .60 m/s^2? but i don't get the right answer...

help please!

You don't get the right answer even though you don't have the right answer? lol
 
webassign is a homework program on the internet...it tells you right away if you're wrong or right...but doesn't give you the right answer until after its due or if you get the answer right.
 
  • #10
I think what Kazza is saying is [itex]\vec{F_T} - mg = m\vec{a}[/itex]. If that's correct then you can think of a free body diagram of the rope with the upward force equal to ma, and the downward force equal to mg. But don't take my word on it :biggrin:
 
Last edited:
  • #11
thanks cscott! its correct!
 
  • #12
Woo! I give 94.8% credit to Kazza :wink:
 

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