A spring balance is attached to the ceiling of an elevator accelerating downwards at 2.0\t… — JAMB UTME

A spring balance is attached to the ceiling of an elevator accelerating downwards at $2.0\text{ m s}^{-2}$ . Suspended from the hook of the spring balance is a light, frictionless pulley carrying two masses of $3.0\text{ kg}$ and $1.0\text{ kg}$ connected by a light inextensible string. Taking the acceleration due to gravity $g = 10.0\text{ m s}^{-2}$ , what is the reading registered by the spring balance in newtons?

Answer: 24 N

Answer

The reading registered by the spring balance is 24 N.

In a frame accelerating downwards at

a = 2.0\text{ m s}^{-2}

, the effective acceleration due to gravity is reduced to

g' = g - a = 8.0\text{ m s}^{-2}

. Within this frame, the tension in the Atwood machine string is

T = \frac{2(3.0)(1.0)}{3.0 + 1.0} \times 8.0 = 12.0\text{ N}

. Since two string segments act downward on the light pulley suspended from the spring balance, the total tension force registered by the balance scale is

2T = 24.0\text{ N}

Step-by-Step Solution

Determine the effective local acceleration due to gravity inside the accelerating elevator

g' = 8.0\text{ m s}^{-2}

Because the elevator accelerates downward at

a = 2.0\text{ m s}^{-2}

, objects inside experience an apparent gravitational acceleration of

g' = g - a

Compute the tension in the string supporting the two masses in the modified gravitational field

T = 12.0\text{ N}

For an Atwood machine system in effective gravity

g'

, string tension is

T = \frac{2 m_1 m_2}{m_1 + m_2} g' = \frac{2(3.0)(1.0)}{4.0} \times 8.0 = 12.0\text{ N}

Calculate the downward pull on the spring balance

F = 24.0\text{ N}

The spring balance supports the frictionless pulley, which experiences a downward force from two upward string segments, making the total measured weight force equal to

2T = 24.0\text{ N}

Key Concept

Apparent weight measurement and tension forces in accelerating frames

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