The cable holding an elevator would break if the tension in it exceeds 25000N. If the 480 kg elevator carries a load limit of 24 passengers (ave mass is 70kg per person) what is the max possible upward acceleration of the elevator without breaking cable?

Question

4649 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2017-04-14T17:01:13

#a = 1.76 ms^-2#

The resultant upwards force on the lift is linked to its acceleration through Newton's 2nd law:

#"Tension - weight= ma"#

In this case, total mass is

#480+24*70=2160kg#
So
#weight =mg=2160*.9.81=21,190N

at breaking point:

#25000 - 21190=2160*a#

Solving gives #a = 1.76 ms^-2#