Relative Velocity: Determine Tension in Elevator Strings

[emant777]

A 3-kg mass is hanging from a 2-kg mass that is hanging from the ceiling of an elevator. The elevator is accelerating upwards at a rate of 2 m/s^2.

a) Determine the tension in the string connected between the two masses and also in the string between the ceiling and the upper mass.b) Repeat for the case where the elevator is accelerating downwards at the same rate.

c) Is it always the case that the string connected to the ceiling will have a greater amount of tension than the one in between the masses? Justify your answer.

thank you.

This is what I got for a:

sum F on the 2 kg mass:

4 = T.2 - T.1 - 20
24 = T.2 - T.1

sum F on the 3 kg mass:

6 = T.1 - 20
T.1 = 26 N
T.2 = 50 N

Is this correct?

 

[mgb_phys]

You should post this in the homework forum, and you have to at least have a try at a solution before we help you.

 

[PhanthomJay]

A 3-kg mass is hanging from a 2-kg mass that is hanging from the ceiling of an elevator. The elevator is accelerating upwards at a rate of 2 m/s^2.

a) Determine the tension in the string connected between the two masses and also in the string between the ceiling and the upper mass.


b) Repeat for the case where the elevator is accelerating downwards at the same rate.

c) Is it always the case that the string connected to the ceiling will have a greater amount of tension than the one in between the masses? Justify your answer.

thank you.

This is what I got for a:

sum F on the 2 kg mass:

4 = T.2 - T.1 - 20
24 = T.2 - T.1

sum F on the 3 kg mass:

6 = T.1 - 20
T.1 = 26 N
T.2 = 50 N

Is this correct?

You calcualted T.1 incorrectly, and therefore got T.2 wrong also. It should be 6 =T.1 - ?. Solve for T.1, and then T.2 will come out correct using your first set of equations. What about part b? And for part c, what happens if the elevator is in free fall??l