A cable is lifting a construction worker and a crate, as the drawing shows. The weights of the worker and crate are 833 N and 1380 N, respectively. The acceleration of the cable is 0.620 m/s2, upward. What is the tension in the cable (a) below the worker and (b) above the worker?

Answer 1

Assume the crate is below the worker, with a cable in-between.

Mass of worker, mw = 833/9.81= 84.9 kg
mass of crate, mc = 1380/9.81=140.7 kg

Total mass = mw+mc= 225.6 kg

Tension in cable above worker
=(mw+mc)*(g+a)
=225.6*(9.81+0.62)
=2354 N

Tension in cable between worker and crate
=140.67*(9.81+0.62)
=1467 N