Question

You are designing a safety device in case of a failure of an elevator. You need to design for a 2000-kg elevator that is falling at 4.00 m/s when it first contacts a cushioning spring at the bottom of the elevator shaft. The spring should stop the elevator, compressing 2.00 m as it does so.

In addition to the spring, a safety clamp applies a constant 17000-N frictional force to the elevator to help stop it.

Part A

When the elevator is 1.00 m from the point where it first contacts a spring, and moving downward, what is its speed?

Part B

When the elevator is 1.00 m below point where it first contacts a spring, and moving downward, what is the magnitude of its acceleration?

Answer 1