Sphere A is attached to the ceiling of an elevator by a string...

Question

Sphere A is attached to the ceiling of an elevator by a string. A second sphere is attached to the first one by a second string. Both strings are of negligible mass. Here m₁ = m₂ = m = 2.82 kg.

a) The elevator starts from rest and accelerates downward with a = 1.35 m/s². What are the tensions in the two strings in newtons?

T1 =

T2 =

b) If the elevator moves upward instead with the same acceleration what will be the tension in the two strings in newtons?

T1 =

T2 =

c) The maximum tension the two strings can withstand is 88.0 N. What maximum upward acceleration (in m/s²) can the elevator have without having one of the strings break?

Answer 1

Elevator moving down

T1 = 5.64 g - 5.64 *a

a==1.35 m/s²

use g= 10

T2 = (2.82g - 2.82*1.35 ) N

Elevator going up

T1 = 5.64 g +5.64 *1.35

When will the upper string break?

0.88 = 5.64g + 5.64 a

Get a from this equation , which is the maximum acceleration before the upper string breaks