Question

An elevator is being pulled up from the ground floor to the third floor by a cable. The cable is exerting 4500 newtons of force on the elevator. According to Newton's law of action-reaction, what is the gravitational force on the elevator, in newtons, if the elevator is NOT accelerating?

Answer 1

Answer:

The gravitational force on the elevator = 4500N

Explanation:

The given parameters are;

The force applied by the elevator, F  = 4500 N

The acceleration of the elevator = Not accelerating

From Newton's third law of motion, the action of the cable force is equal to the reaction of the gravitational force on the elevator which is the weight, W and motion of the elevator as follows;

F = W + Mass of elevator × Acceleration of elevator

∴ F = W + Mass of elevator × 0 = W

F = 4500 N = W

The net force on the elevator is F - W = 0

The gravitational force on the elevator = W = 4500N.