Calculating force required for lifting

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    Force Lifting
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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the force required to lift a 240 kg rectangular mass using two cables. Participants explore the implications of force diagrams (FBD) and the conditions under which the mass is lifted, including the effects of gravity and acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants question how to determine if the mass is being lifted based solely on the FBD, considering scenarios where the mass may be stationary or moving at constant speed.
  • There is an exploration of the forces involved when accelerating the mass upwards, including the calculation of additional force required beyond the gravitational force.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing insights into the relationship between net force and motion. Some guidance has been offered regarding the laws of motion, but multiple interpretations of the force calculations and conditions for lifting are still being explored.

Contextual Notes

Participants are considering the effects of acceleration and the need for additional force to achieve upward motion, while also discussing the implications of the first and second laws of motion. There may be assumptions about the setup that are not fully clarified.

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Homework Statement


say you have a 240kg rectangular mass

it is pulled upwards by two cables symetrically

since force due to gravity is 240g so each cables would have to produce 120g each to lift the mass.

but the resultant force sum to zero

so if we were just given a FBD of the 240kg mass with two cables attached how would we know it is being lifted up??




Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 
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hi sozener1! :smile:
sozener1 said:
so if we were just given a FBD of the 240kg mass with two cables attached how would we know it is being lifted up??

the forces (and the FBD) will be the same no matter whether the mass is stationary, is being lifted up at constant speed, or is being lowered at constant speed :wink:
 
tiny-tim said:
hi sozener1! :smile:


the forces (and the FBD) will be the same no matter whether the mass is stationary, is being lifted up at constant speed, or is being lowered at constant speed :wink:


so if you want to accelerate the mass upwards from 0m/s to 2m/s in 3seconds

the accelerations would be 2/3=0.667m/s2

and F=ma so 240 times 0.667 gives something like 160N

Does this force would have to be an additional force applied to the cables??

so that the total force upwards is 240g+160N ??
 
sozener1 said:
so if you want to accelerate the mass upwards from 0m/s to 2m/s in 3seconds

the accelerations would be 2/3=0.667m/s2

and F=ma so 240 times 0.667 gives something like 160N

Does this force would have to be an additional force applied to the cables??

so that the total force upwards is 240g+160N ??

It really pays to keep track of the laws of motion. What tinytim replied is true because of the first law: when the net force on a body is zero, its motion will not change (i.e., it will not accelerate).

Your last question is really a matter of the second law: when there is a net force, the body accelerates in the direction of the net force. You showed that the net force is 160 N, which means
downward force + upward force = 160 N

(Remember to choose one direction as positive and one as negative).
 

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