Why Does Tension Change in Different Motion Scenarios?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the concept of tension in various motion scenarios involving a car towing a van and a crane lifting a mass. In the first scenario, the tension of 500N in the coupling remains even at uniform speed due to the need to counteract forces acting on the van. When the car accelerates at 2m/s², the new tension can be calculated using Newton's second law, resulting in a higher tension value. In the crane scenario, different tensions are calculated based on the load's state: at rest, being raised, or lowered, with specific accelerations affecting the tension values accordingly.

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Homework Statement



1. A car tows a van of mass 1000kg with uniform speed of 10m/s. The tension in the coupling is 500N. Explain why the thension is not zero. The car now accelerates at 2m/s^2. What is the new tension in the coupling?


2. A crane is to haul a mass of 1000kg onto a deck of a ship. Find the tension in the cable when the load is A Held at rest off the ground. B Raised with an acceleration of 0.5m/s^2 C Raised with uniform speed of 1.5 m/s D Lowered with an acceleration of 1m/s^2. E Brought to rest while being lowered at 0.4 m/s^2


The Attempt at a Solution


dunno
 
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That's unfotunate! Do you have no idea why there should be tension in a coupling even if there is no acceleration? What would happen to the trailer if the trailer hitch gave way? Why?

For the rest, surely you know that "force equal mass times acceleration"!
 

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