# Rope Forces

1. Nov 18, 2007

### mortho

[SOLVED] Rope Forces

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
How much tension must a rope withstand if it is used to accelerate a 1400 kg car vertically upward at 0.50 m/s2?

2. Relevant equations

F=ma

3. The attempt at a solution

Well i know that the force going up is going to be 700 N and i need to somehow subtract it from a force going horizontally to get my answer. I just don't know which..maybe i'm just missing something that i can 't think of ..NEED HELp thanks!

2. Nov 18, 2007

### hotcommodity

What are the forces acting vertically? Let's say we pick upward to be positive, what's the equation for Newton's Second Law in terms of the summed forces?

3. Nov 18, 2007

### mortho

Fg and Fn are acting vertically. the equation for Fg is Fg=mg and so i got 13720. Fg must be equal to Fn because of the flat ground so would that be that answer. But then the acceleration's going to affect it so...then 700 N is going to play a part right? Do i subtract it?? i'm so confused!!

4. Nov 18, 2007

### hotcommodity

Ok, so you're going to have the force on the car due to gravity, this is the car's weight. But I believe you're mistaken about the second force. We're not going to have a normal force, as the car won't be on the ground once it accelerates vertically. What force is pulling the car upwards, where does it fit into our net force equation?

You've already identified the weight force, now we need one more:

$$\Sigma F_{vert} = (Upward force) - mg = ma$$

5. Nov 18, 2007

### mortho

i dont understand the upward force part..would we do this 700-13720 becuase 700 is what was pushing down but since it's lifted it lessens?

6. Nov 18, 2007

### hage567

The upward force is the tension in the rope. Imagine the car hanging from a crane (or something). If it is being pulled upwards, there are two forces present. The tension, and gravity. They are acting in different directions. You need to add them up according to Newton's second law to get the net force, which will equal ma. You know the mass and acceleration, all you need to do is solve for the tension (or the upward force as hotcommodity called it). Look at post #4 carefully.

7. Nov 18, 2007

### mortho

so i dont subtract 700 from 13720? i would add them instead?

8. Nov 18, 2007

### hage567

Yes, that's right.

9. Nov 18, 2007

### mortho

and that would be my final answer? wow that's huge!

10. Nov 18, 2007

### hage567

11. Nov 18, 2007

### mortho

THANK YOU !!! oh by the way i sent you a message in your inbox thing!

12. Nov 18, 2007

Got it.