Physics Question

Question

An elevator cab is pulled upward by a cable. The cab and its single occupant have a combined mass of 1450 kg. When that occupant drops a coin, the tension in the cable is 12.0 kN. What is the acceleration of the coin relative to the cab? (Assume up is the positive direction and enter your answer accurate to 3 significant figures.)

___ m/s^2

Answer 1

The acceleration of the coin will be g + a where a is the acceleration upwards of the elevator (if the acceleration is downwards that will make a negative)

The net force on the cab is T - F_g = ma, so a = (T-mg)/m = (12000N - 1450kg*9.8N/kg)/1450 kg