Tension in a string along with a Pseudo force

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a block of mass 50g suspended from the ceiling of an elevator, with the elevator accelerating upwards at 1.2 m/s². Participants are discussing how to calculate the tension in the string, considering the effects of acceleration and the concept of pseudo forces.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Some participants attempt to apply Newton's second law and consider the net forces acting on the block, while others question the necessity of introducing a pseudo force in the analysis. There is also confusion regarding the correct interpretation of acceleration and its impact on the tension calculation.

Discussion Status

The discussion is exploring different interpretations of the forces involved, with some participants suggesting that a pseudo force is unnecessary, while others argue for its inclusion. There is no clear consensus, but various viewpoints are being examined, and some participants are providing numerical examples to illustrate their points.

Contextual Notes

Participants are grappling with the definitions of forces and acceleration in a non-inertial reference frame, and there is mention of a discrepancy between calculated values and those found in a textbook. The original poster expresses confusion regarding the assumptions made in the problem.

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Homework Statement



A block of mass 50g is suspended from the ceiling of an elevator.Find the tension in the string if the elevator goes up with an acceleration of [tex]1.2m/s^2[/tex]

Homework Equations



[tex]F_{net}=ma_{net}[/tex]

The Attempt at a Solution


I have reached here:...but with this i don't get the books answer...The book takes net acceleration to be 0:eek:
If F be the pseudo force...then,
[tex]T-F_g-F=ma[/tex]
[tex]a=1.2[/tex]
So solving this i get an answer that differs from the one given in a problem book...that is 55N(the book's ans)

Ive realized that we get 55N if we take [tex]a_{net}=0[/tex].Now how is this possible?:confused:
 
Last edited:
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The real forces that the mass experiences are the tension in the string, T, and its weight, W. The resultant of these two forces are responsible for its given acceleration. So there is no need for a pseudo force.

Also with a mass of 50 grams the tension comes to 0.55 N. A mass of 5.0 kg will give 55 N.
 
Last edited:
andrevdh said:
The real forces that the mass experiences are the tension in the string, T, and its weight, W. The resultant of these two forces are responsible for its given acceleration. So there is no need for a pseudo force.

Also with a mass of 50 grams the tension comes to 0.55 N. A mass of 5.0 kg will give 55 N.

Well...i don't seem to get the point that u have referred to...because...we certainly need a pseudo force.But i understand that relative acceleration will be zero.
 
Depends upon your point of view. I would say there are two "forces" on the mass: one of mg= .05kg (9.8/s2)= 0.49 N downward and the "pseudo" force of ma= 0.5kg(1.2 m/s2)= 0.06 N, also downward, so that the total "force" on the spring and its tension is 0.06+ 0.49= 0.55 N.

Of course, you could also have said that there is a net "acceleration" of 11 m/s2 downward given F= ma= 0.55N.
 
Thnx for the solution to the problem
 

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