Calculating Tension in a Rope with an Electric Motor

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the tension in a rope used by an electric motor to lift a 40kg mass at a steady speed, with friction forces ignored. The original poster expresses confusion about the physics concepts involved.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the use of a free body diagram to identify forces acting on the mass and reference the equation F = m * a. Some question whether simply multiplying the mass by gravity is sufficient to find the tension.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes attempts to clarify the relationship between tension, mass, and gravitational force. Some participants provide guidance on starting the problem, while others express uncertainty about the simplicity of the solution.

Contextual Notes

The original poster is new to physics and is seeking foundational understanding, indicating a potential gap in knowledge regarding the application of basic physics principles in this context.

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how do u work out the tension of a rope ? an electric motor is used to lift a mass of 40kg at a steady speed if friction forces are ignored calculate the tension of the rope. help i have just started physics double award and do not understand this
 
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paddygills said:
how do u work out the tension of a rope ? an electric motor is used to lift a mass of 40kg at a steady speed if friction forces are ignored calculate the tension of the rope. help i have just started physics double award and do not understand this

Welcome to the PF.

You start by drawing a free body diagram (FBD) of the object (the mass), showing all the forces acting on the mass. Then you use the equation F = m * a to continue with the calculations. The F is the sum of all the forces acting on the mass m, and the resulting acceleration is a.

Show us how you start this problem now...
 
Neglecting friction, T = mg

Since the question indicated a steady speed, we have to assume that u > 0, and that the overall change in momentum(net force) is zero.
 
so do i just multiply 40kg times gravity to get the right answer
 
Yes it is pretty straightforward.
 
thanks for the help thought it was that but it seemed too easy
 

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