Help with unbalanced force

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In summary: But if you want to you can say -3.8 ms-2 up]The conversation discusses determining the acceleration of an elevator with a mass of 1500 kg and a frictional force of 9000 N. It also includes calculating the reading on a bathroom scale for a 50.0 kg woman in the elevator and determining the time it would take for the elevator to drop 30 floors. In summary, the conversation covers drawing a force diagram, finding the acceleration, calculating a scale reading, and determining the time for the elevator to drop floors.
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xPiiNK
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Can you check if my answers are correct?

Suppose that the mass of the elevator and passengers were 1500 kg, and the frictional force (wheels on tracks) was 9000 N.

1. Draw a force diagram for the elevator.
Force of friction pointed up and force of gravity pointed down


2. Determine the acceleration of the elevator.
would it be -3.8 m/s^2 or 3.8 m/s^2?


3. Suppose that a 50.0 kg woman were standing on a bathroom scale in this elevator car. What would the scale read?

300 N


4. Determine how long it would take for the elevator car (starting from rest) to drop 30 floors (assume each floor is 3.0 m).

6.88 s

thanks!
 
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  • #2
xPiiNK said:
Can you check if my answers are correct?

Suppose that the mass of the elevator and passengers were 1500 kg, and the frictional force (wheels on tracks) was 9000 N.

1. Draw a force diagram for the elevator.
Force of friction pointed up and force of gravity pointed down


2. Determine the acceleration of the elevator.
would it be -3.8 m/s^2 or 3.8 m/s^2?


3. Suppose that a 50.0 kg woman were standing on a bathroom scale in this elevator car. What would the scale read?

300 N


4. Determine how long it would take for the elevator car (starting from rest) to drop 30 floors (assume each floor is 3.0 m).

6.88 s

thanks!

All look OK.

Re the -3.8 or +3.8.

The acceleration is definitely down. Have you defined up or down as positive? [actually you don't need to define it, just say the acceleration is 3.8 ms-2 Down.
 

1. What is an unbalanced force?

An unbalanced force is a force that causes an object to accelerate or change its motion. It occurs when the net force acting on an object is not zero, meaning that there is a greater force acting in one direction than in the opposite direction.

2. How is an unbalanced force different from a balanced force?

A balanced force is a force that does not cause an object to accelerate or change its motion. It occurs when the net force acting on an object is zero, meaning that the forces acting in opposite directions cancel each other out.

3. What are some examples of unbalanced forces?

Some examples of unbalanced forces include pushing or pulling an object, gravity pulling an object towards the ground, and friction acting against the motion of an object.

4. How can you determine the direction of an object's motion when there is an unbalanced force acting on it?

The direction of an object's motion is determined by the direction of the net force acting on it. If the net force is greater in one direction, the object will accelerate in that direction.

5. How can an unbalanced force be used in everyday life?

Unbalanced forces are used in everyday life in a variety of ways, such as in sports where athletes use unbalanced forces to exert a greater force on the object they are manipulating, or in transportation where engines use unbalanced forces to propel vehicles forward.

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