Tension in a Rope: Understanding Acceleration in Lifting a Bucket of Water

  • Thread starter Thread starter izmeh
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Spring Strings
AI Thread Summary
To determine the tension in the rope while lifting a 4.25-kg bucket of water with an acceleration of 1.80 m/s², one must consider both the upward tension and the downward gravitational force. The net force acting on the bucket can be expressed using Newton's second law, where the net force equals mass multiplied by acceleration (Fnet = ma). The weight of the bucket, calculated as mass times gravitational acceleration (mg), must be subtracted from the tension to find the net force (Fnet = T - mg). By substituting the known values into the equations, the tension in the rope can be calculated. Understanding these forces is essential for solving the problem accurately.
izmeh
I have the following problem

Pulling up on a rope, you lift a 4.25-kg bucket of water from a well with an acceleration of 1.80 m/s². What is the tension in the rope?

What part exactly does the acceleration play in this scenario?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Originally posted by izmeh
What part exactly does the acceleration play in this scenario?
The net force on an object determines its acceleration. Given the acceleration, you can find the net force. Tell us what you know about Newton's second law.
 
net force = ma
a = f/m
1.80 = f/4.25
f = 7.65
 
First step: Describe all the forces acting on that bucket! Then add them up to find the net force.

Draw yourself a diagram.
 
there is the force of me pull it up @ 1.80m/s²
the mass 4.25 pulling down...
 
Originally posted by izmeh
there is the force of me pull it up @ 1.80m/s²
the mass 4.25 pulling down...
There is a force pulling up, that's the tension (T) in the rope. There's also a force pulling down, the weight (not mass!) of the bucket&water. (Note: gravity pulls on the mass, that pull is the weight. You can calculate the weight by multiplying the mass by g, the acceleration due to gravity. g = 9.8 [m/s2])

The net force is (choosing up as positive):

Fnet = T - mg

From Newton's second law:

Fnet = ma

Now it's your turn. You know a (it's 1.8 m/s2 upwards) and you know m . Find T. Give it a try.
 

Thread 'Struggling to understand the concept of this question (ice cube in water optics question)'

TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
View full post »
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
View full post »

Similar threads

Monkey accelerating up and down a rope
Replies
38
Views
4K
What Torque Is Required to Raise a Water Bucket from a Well?
Replies
5
Views
2K
Tension on a Massive Rope: How to Calculate Tension at Different Points
Replies
11
Views
3K
How Does Nick's Acceleration Change When His Friend Pulls the Rope?
Replies
6
Views
4K
Newton's law problem: Helicopter lifting a box with a rope
Replies
5
Views
3K
Vertical spring connected between two bodies with a rope above them
Replies
16
Views
2K
Tension in Ropes: Solving Forces on Trunk
Replies
7
Views
5K
How do varying forces on a massless rope affect tension?
Replies
2
Views
1K
Help again in interpreting a pulley with a spring and a block
2
Replies
52
Views
3K
Approximating Answers When Exact Numbers Are Involved
Replies
7
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top