Question

An elevator is accelerating upward at a rate of 3.6 m/s2. a block of mass 24 kg hangs by a low-mass rope from the ceiling, and another block of mass 90 kg hangs by a low-mass rope from the upper block. (a) what are the tensions in the upper and lower ropes?

Answer 1

The answer:

When the elevator accelerates upward at a rate of 3.6 m/s², the value of the acceleration becomes

A=g+3.6=13.4 m/s²
and by using the newton's law, F=mass x A, we have 
T1= (24 + 90 )x 13.4= 1527.6 N, where T1 is the Tension in upper rope
 and 
T2= ( 90 )x 13.4= 1206N, where T2 is the Tension in lower rope

When the elevator accelerates downward at a rate of 3.6 m/s², the value of the acceleration becomes
A=9.8 - 3.6 = 6.2 m/s²

T1= (24 + 90 )x 6.2= 706.8 N, where T1 is the Tension in upper rope
 and 
T2= ( 90 )x 6.2= 558N, where T2 is the Tension in lower rope