How Do Forces Act on an Elevator in Motion and at Rest?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the forces acting on an elevator in various states of motion, including at rest, ascending, and descending. Participants explore the implications of speed versus acceleration in the context of Newton's laws of motion.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculation of gravitational force and tension in the elevator scenario, questioning how to apply speed when acceleration is not provided. They also explore the implications of constant speed on net force and tension.

Discussion Status

The conversation includes attempts to clarify the relationships between forces, with some participants providing guidance on sign conventions and the importance of defining coordinate systems. There is an ongoing exploration of how to approach different parts of the problem, particularly regarding the tension in the string of a rock swung in a vertical plane.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework rules, which may limit the information they can use or the methods they can apply. There is a focus on understanding the principles rather than arriving at definitive solutions.

  • #61
yes..4gR=v^2+2g*R(1-costhetha)..?
 
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  • #62
pinkyjoshi65 said:
yes..4gR=v^2+2g*R(1-costhetha)..?
Correct! So know we can re-write the following equation;

F_x = \frac{mv^2}{r} = \frac{mv^2}{R\sin\theta}

as

F_x = \frac{m\left[ 4gR-2gR(1-\cos\theta)\right]}{R\sin\theta}

We can also re-write Fx as;

F_x = T\sin\theta

Hence, we can re-write our main equation as

T\sin\theta = \frac{m\left[ 4gR-2gR(1-\cos\theta)\right]}{R\sin\theta}

We also know that;

T\cos\theta = mg \Leftrightarrow T = \frac{mg}{\cos\theta}

And we can finally re-write our expression;

\frac{mg\sin\theta}{\cos\theta} = \frac{m\left[ 4gR-2gR(1-\cos\theta)\right]}{R\sin\theta}

Do you follow?
 
  • #63
yes..
 
  • #64
pinkyjoshi65 said:
yes..
So now it's your turn, solve for \cos\theta...
 
  • #65
ok i got a quadratic equation---8.35Cos^2thetha-14.7Costheta+7.35=0..When i used the Quadratic equation, i got a negative root...:S
 
  • #66
pinkyjoshi65 said:
ok i got a quadratic equation---8.35Cos^2thetha-14.7Costheta+7.35=0..When i used the Quadratic equation, i got a negative root...:S
Well I'll start you off and we'll see how you go; let's start by cancelling the mg's and the R's;

\frac{\cancel{mg}\sin\theta}{\cos\theta} = \frac{\cancel{m}\left[ 4\cancel{g}\cancel{R}-2\cancel{g}\cancel{R}(1-\cos\theta)\right]}{\cancel{R}\sin\theta}

Now that leaves us with;

\frac{\sin\theta}{\cos\theta} = \frac{4-2(1-\cos\theta)}{\sin\theta}

Expanding the numerator;

\frac{\sin\theta}{\cos\theta} = \frac{4-2+2\cos\theta}{\sin\theta}

Getting rid of the fraction on the LHS;

1 = \frac{2\cos\theta+2\cos^2\theta}{\sin^2\theta} = \frac{2\cos\theta+2\cos^2\theta}{1-\cos^2\theta}

Moving the denominator to the LHS;

1-\cos^2\theta = 2\cos\theta+2\cos^2\theta

Collecting terms;

3\cos^2\theta +2\cos\theta - 1 = 0

Can you go from here?
 
  • #67
by solving this i get the angle as 78 degrees, but the answer is 70 degrees.
 
  • #68
ohk..never mind i got it..!..thanks..:)
 

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