Calculating Tension Force in a Tug-of-War

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the unknown tension force in a tug-of-war scenario, where one participant is winning. The context involves analyzing forces and tension in a rope, with considerations of mass and acceleration.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the assumption that tension is constant in a massless rope and question whether the mass of the rope is provided. There is also a discussion about the implications of the rope's mass on the tension if it were not negligible.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered insights into the nature of tension in the rope and the conditions under which it can be considered constant. There is an ongoing exploration of the assumptions regarding the mass of the rope and its effect on the tension calculation.

Contextual Notes

It is noted that no mass for the rope is provided in the problem statement, which may influence the analysis of the tension force.

temaire
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Homework Statement


The diagram below shows two people having a tug-of-war. Determine the unknown tension force if person A is winning.

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8286/forcefp2.gif​


Homework Equations


None that I think are necessary.


The Attempt at a Solution


I think that the unkown tension for person B would be 900 N, because tension is constant throughout the entire rope.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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You're right if the rope is massless... do they give a mass for the rope?
 
temaire said:

Homework Equations


None that I think are necessary.

How about Fnet = ma?

temaire said:

The Attempt at a Solution


I think that the unkown tension for person B would be 900 N, because tension is constant throughout the entire rope.

Typically, since the mass of the rope is negligible compared to the rest of the system we assume it to be massless. If so, then the tension throughout the rope is indeed the same (of course if it has mass and is not accelerating then you get the same result as well).

In this case, since A is winning, the rope would be accelerating (unless A is winning at a constant velocity!). However, since the rope is assumed massless then the tension is the same throughout as previously stated.
 
Last edited:
No, they don't give a mass for the rope. Thanks for the help though guys.
 

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