How much tension should the rope be able to withstand?

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To determine the tension a rope must withstand when pulling a 1200 Kg car with an upward acceleration of 0.8 m/s², the net force acting on the car is calculated as 960 Newtons. This net force is the result of the tension in the rope acting upward and the weight of the car acting downward. The weight of the car, which is the force due to gravity, must be calculated to find the tension. The equation T - W = 960 is used, where T is the tension and W is the weight of the car. The discussion emphasizes the importance of correctly applying the signs in the equations to ensure accurate calculations.
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Homework Statement



A rope is pulling up a 1200 Kg car. The upwards acceleration is 0.8 m/s2. How much tension should the rope be able to withstand?

Homework Equations



Net force is equal to mass x acceleration.

The Attempt at a Solution



So would it just be 1200 Kg x 0.8 m/s2 which is 960 Newtons?
 
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Ryuk1990 said:

Homework Statement



A rope is pulling up a 1200 Kg car. The upwards acceleration is 0.8 m/s2. How much tension should the rope be able to withstand?

Homework Equations



Net force is equal to mass x acceleration.

The Attempt at a Solution



So would it just be 1200 Kg x 0.8 m/s2 which is 960 Newtons?
That's the net force. The net force is the algebraic sum of all the forces acting on the car. What are the forces acting on the car?
 
PhanthomJay said:
That's the net force. The net force is the algebraic sum of all the forces acting on the car. What are the forces acting on the car?

The normal force and gravity?
 
Ryuk1990 said:
The normal force and gravity?
Gravity is one force acting down on the car (it's weight). The other force is the contact force (which perhaps you are calling the normal force) which is actually the ___?____ force in the ____?___ which acts ______________(up/down, choose one).
 
The net force in the system which acts up?
 
Ryuk1990 said:
The net force in the system which acts up?
You have already calculated the net (resultant) force. It is equal to 960 N. The net force always acts in the direction of the acceleration, thus, the net force of 960 N acts up. The net force on the car is comprised of 2 forces: the weight of the car, acting down, and the rope tension, which must act up (since the net force is up, the tension force must be greater than the weight force). So you have the tension force acting up, and the weight force acting down, and their net total (algebraic sum) must be 960N .. So the tension force is ?
 
PhanthomJay said:
You have already calculated the net (resultant) force. It is equal to 960 N. The net force always acts in the direction of the acceleration, thus, the net force of 960 N acts up. The net force on the car is comprised of 2 forces: the weight of the car, acting down, and the rope tension, which must act up (since the net force is up, the tension force must be greater than the weight force). So you have the tension force acting up, and the weight force acting down, and their net total (algebraic sum) must be 960N .. So the tension force is ?

960 minus the downward force?
 
No. Please pay heed to your plus and minus signs!

F_net =ma =960 N

the net force must be up (+), in the direction of the acceleration (+).

You have T (the rope tension) acting up (+), and W (the car's weight) acting down (-). T must be greater than W if the net force is up. Thus
T - W = 960. Solve for T, after first calculating W.
 
Ah that makes sense. Thanks for the help. :-)
 
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