Reaction

If twobodies are in direct contact then they exertan equal but opposite
reactiononthe other R2

E o

R2

now

e o r
momma mg r my

the force due to a mass actingon anotherbody is its reaction not its weight
Uninhutively

A weightonlyactson the body ofthatmass

Note on lifts the maximum downwards acceleration is 9.8ms as that represents a body

infreefall

Journey of a lift

goingotO

equilibrium

re

re

equilibria
r
ve te

equilibrium

v
goingdowrimT

Static equilibrium ko

In equilibrium the reaction bythe person will equaltheirweight

andthe tension willequal the totalweightof the system

omg

R ng O R mg

4mg

Upwards acceleration upwards motion

As theobjectsare incontact theyhave thesame acceleration

Theeffect on the person will be

me
µ

o K mg ma

R2Mg re mg ma lie it is greater Why Becausethereach

is outweighing the weight to cause an

acceleration

Dynamic equilibrium constant velocity

As in position R mg

Deceleration downwards acceleration upwards motion

T
a R mg MC a

r
R mg ma

v
va

om Recallthat Rz0 for objects to be in contact so a eg

Weknowthis to betrue as theropecannot push the lift downwards

Rs99 sothe maximum downwards acceleration of the lift mustbe g

Static Cas

Downwards acceleration downwardsmotion as

Dynamic equilibrium constantvelocity as

Upwards acceleration downwardsvelocity as

staticEquilibrium as

Broken
rope

inthecasethattheropebreakstherewillbenotensionactingonthelift
Bothbodieswillexperience accelerationdueonlyto gravity

Theeffectontheobjectinthelifewillbe

m Eg Rmg mg

ing R 0

Boththeperson
andtheliftareinfreefanTheliftisnotexerting

anyforceonmeobject thisisclearlytrueasthe objecthasreachedin

maximumdownwardsacceleration possible dueonlyto weight

Notethe
liftcanalso technical
feelawif its downwards carmotiondownwards or deceleration
formotion
acceleration
experience

upwards isequaltog

ta

vg T cm1mg cmmy
Mm

T o

cm

ing

Examples

A person of mass 100 kg stands in a lift.

What is the force exerted by the lift oor on the person when the lift is:

i) moving upwards at 3 ms-1

ii) moving downwards at 4 ms-1

A man enters an elevator holding two boxes - one on top of the other. The top box has a mass

of 6.0 kg and the bottom box has a mass of 8.0 kg. The man sets the two boxes on a metric

scale sitting on the oor. When accelerating upward from rest, the man observes that the scale

reads a value of 166 N; this is the upward force upon the bottom box. Determine the

acceleration of the elevator (and boxes) and determine the forces acting between the boxes.

Two boxes are held together by a strong wire and attached to the ceiling of an elevator by

a second wire (see diagram). The mass of the top box is 14.2 kg; the mass of the bottom

box is 10.4 kg. The elevator accelerates upwards at 2.84 m/s2. (Assume the wire is relatively

massless.)

(a) Find the tension in the top wire (connecting points A and B).

(b) Find the tension in the bottom wire (connecting points C and D).

Exercise 2