Counterweight in An Elevator System

  • Thread starter Thread starter physicsisgrea
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Elevator System
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the power delivered to an elevator system with a cabin weight of 2000 kg, a counterweight of 2220 kg, and a load of 550 kg, moving upwards at a constant speed of 1.75 m/s. The textbook states the power is 5775 W, while the teacher claims it should be 44625 W. The discrepancy arises from the consideration of the counterweight's contribution to the system's energy efficiency, which the instructor failed to account for. The ambiguity in the problem's wording regarding the inclusion of the counterweight is also highlighted as a critical point of confusion.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of gravitational potential energy (G.P.E.)
  • Basic principles of physics related to work and energy
  • Familiarity with elevator mechanics and counterweight systems
  • Knowledge of power calculations in mechanical systems
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of gravitational potential energy and its applications in mechanical systems.
  • Learn how to calculate power in systems involving counterweights and moving loads.
  • Explore the physics of elevator systems, focusing on energy efficiency and counterweight dynamics.
  • Review problem-solving techniques for ambiguous physics problems to clarify assumptions and parameters.
USEFUL FOR

Students in physics or engineering courses, elevator system designers, and anyone interested in understanding energy efficiency in mechanical systems.

physicsisgrea
Messages
25
Reaction score
1
An elevator system, includes a cabin of 2000 kg, a counterweight of 2220 kg and a load of 550 kg, moves at constant speed) of 1.75 m/s upwards. Find the power being delivered to the system including only the cabin and load. (Take g, acceleration of gravity = 10 m/s^2)

*The counterweight helps save energy, as the loss in G.P.E. itself goes to part of the gain in G.P.E. of the cabin and load.

The answer given by my textbook is 5775 W. However my teacher says it should be 44625 W, and I don't know which one is correct, please help me!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
physicsisgrea said:
The answer given by my textbook is 5775 W. However my teacher says it should be 44625 W, and I don't know which one is correct, please help me!
Your instructor failed to consider the work done by the counterweight. The wording of the problem is ambiguous: what does 'including only the cabin and load' mean? If they didn't want you to consider the effect of the counterweight, why mention it?
 

Similar threads

Calculating Net Force of 3 Blocks in an Elevator
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Power To Accelerate 1000kg Elevator Cab Upward
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
3K
Calculating Tension in an Elevator Cable - Is My Solution Correct?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
How Much Power is Needed to Move an Elevator at 4.50 m/s?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Work done by motor pulling up elevator
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
6K
How Do You Calculate the Velocity of a Counterweight Relative to an Elevator?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Determine the elevator's acceleration
  • · Replies 33 ·
2
Replies
33
Views
4K
How Does Elevator Physics Affect the Work Done by a Cable?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
What is the power input of a motor pulling up an elevator?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Elevator and acceleration problem
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K