Elevator Definition and 567 Threads

An elevator (North American English) or lift (Commonwealth English) is a type of cable-assisted, hydraulic cylinder-assisted, or roller-track assisted machine that vertically transports people or freight between floors, levels, or decks of a building, vessel, or other structure. They are typically powered by electric motors that drive traction cables and counterweight systems such as a hoist, although some pump hydraulic fluid to raise a cylindrical piston like a jack.
In agriculture and manufacturing, an elevator is any type of conveyor device used to lift materials in a continuous stream into bins or silos. Several types exist, such as the chain and bucket elevator, grain auger screw conveyor using the principle of Archimedes' screw, or the chain and paddles or forks of hay elevators. Languages other than English, such as Japanese, may refer to elevators by loanwords based on either elevator or lift. Due to wheelchair access laws, elevators are often a legal requirement in new multistory buildings, especially where wheelchair ramps are not possible.
Some elevators can also travel horizontally in addition to the usual vertical motion.

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  1. DiracPool

    Ray of light through an elevator

    The famous thought experiment that says that the path of light curves in a gravitational field uses the equivalence principle to demonstrate how, if you project a light beam through a hole in an elevator being accelerated through deep space, then to an observer inside the elevator, the path of...
  2. Eclair_de_XII

    How do I find the tension in a cable in an elevator cab?

    Homework Statement "An elevator cab and its load have a combined mass of 1600 kg. Find the tension in the supporting cable when the cab, originally moving downward at 12 m/s, is brought to rest with constant acceleration in a distance of 42 m." ##m = 1600 kg## ##v = 12 m/s## ##d = 42 m##...
  3. FruitNinja

    Time it takes for block to slide down an incline in elevator

    Homework Statement MECHANICS: Given Theta, L, M, and acceleration of elevator relative to ground. Find the time it takes for the block to reach the end of the incline. Here is a diagram: http://k-elahian.com/tmp/nip.PNG Homework Equations f=ma kinematics relative acceleration The Attempt...
  4. S

    Why does light Ray bend in accelerating elevator but not...

    This may be a basic question but why does light ray bend in accelerating elevator but not in one with constant velocity. I know a frame of reference with constant velocity is indistinguishable from a stationary one from the inside but I feel like like somehow the light seems to know whether it's...
  5. P

    Calculating Time of Fall: Elevator Problem

    Homework Statement An elevator is ascending with a uniform velocity 2 m/s when a loose bolt gets detached from the ceiling and falls on the floor. If the ceiling is 3 m above the floor , find the time required by the bolt to fall from the ceiling to the floor? (g=10 m/s2) Homework EquationsThe...
  6. W

    Acceleration of elevator and force in cable

    Homework Statement Mass of elevator = 500kg Counterweight = 134kg Force in cable C1 is 1.2kn Determine the acceleration of the elevator and the force in cable C2 Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution a = f / m a = (C2 - C1) / m2 a = ((m2 * g) - C1) / m2 a = ((134 * 9.81) - 1200) /...
  7. N

    30 kg boy in a 1000 kg elevator moving up 5 m/s

    Homework Statement A 30kg boy is in a 1000kg elevator moving at +5m/s when it comes to a stop in 2 seconds. During the slow down... 1.what is the acceleration of the boy and the elevator? 2. what is the net force acting on the boy? 3.What is the force of the elevator on the boy? Homework...
  8. sander2798

    How does the addition of a lift affect the forces on a space elevator?

    Hello everyone, I am trying to find out how space elevators work, but there is one think I can't figure out. Normally, the forces on the countermass and it's tether will be as following, assuming you neglect the gravity on the tether. But now, I put the lift somewhere on the cable (below...
  9. MMVS

    Hooke's Law Elevator Spring Question

    Homework Statement Elevator initially at rest. Equilibrium length L0=40.0cm 60-kg person stands on spring L1= 32.0cm The elevator than speeds upwards at 2.50 m/s2 What is the new length (L2) Homework Equations Fnet=ma Fsp=-kdeltaX FG=mg The Attempt at a Solution Taking down as positive y hat...
  10. MartinLoland

    Using KE in elevator-system to design brakes?

    Homework Statement Hello! I am doing some rough design on an elevator-system and I have now come to the brake. Here is my system: The text is norwegian but "rdriv" in the first image is "Rdrivskive" in the second image and it's this wheel that is dragging the rope. The "Brems" is where I...
  11. L

    Space Elevator Rope: Homework Solution & Equations

    Homework Statement Consider a long rope with uniform mass density extending radially from just above the surface of the Earth to a radius of n'R. Show that if the rope is to remain above the same point on the equator at all times, then n' must be given by n'2+n' = (8 pi G p)/(3 w^2) G is...
  12. P

    Forces, elevator, acceleration -- I have the answer, just explain it....

    Homework Statement When a 45-kg person steps on a scale in an elevator, the scale reads a steady 480 N. Which of the following statements must be true? There could be more than one correct choice. a) The elevator is accelerating upward at a constant rate b) The elevator is moving downward at a...
  13. T

    How Many Springs Are Needed to Safely Stop a Falling Elevator?

    Homework Statement My question states that an elevator is falling on springs that are supposed to absorb the residual energy if the brakes fail to stop the elevator. They are asking how many springs are needed so that the elevator does not compress the springs by more than 0.2m? mass of...
  14. R

    Elevator + Counterweight problem

    Homework Statement The problem is as posted in this picture[/B] Hey guys/girls, my teacher gave us this problem which I am not sure if I have correct. Could someone please verify if my solution is correct. Homework Equations As in my attempt The Attempt at a Solution My attempt is scanned -
  15. F

    Ball Bearing Speed Calculation in Elevator

    An open elevator is moving with an upward velocity of 0.52ms-1 with an upward acceleration of 2.4ms-2. A ball bearing then rolls off the floor with zero horizontal speed. Determine the speeds of ball bearing and elevator 2s after the ball rolls off the floor. Using v=u+at, speed of ball bearing...
  16. T

    Apparent weight of a man standing in an elevator

    Homework Statement An 80.0 kg man is standing on a scale calibrated in Newtons inside an elevator. Determine the apparent weight of the man as shown by the scale as the elevator is a. stationary. [ans.785 N] b. accelerating downwards at a rate of 1.10 m/s^2. [ans. 697 N] c. accelerating...
  17. andyrk

    Oscillating Spring Block System inside elevator

    A particle that hangs from a spring oscillates with an angular frequency of 2 rad/s. The spring is suspended from the ceiling of an elevator car and hangs motionless (relative to the car) as the car descends at a constant speed of 1.5 m/s. The car then suddenly stops. Neglect the mass of the...
  18. J-dizzal

    Falling elevator onto a spring.

    Homework Statement The cable of the 2000 kg elevator cab in the figure snaps when the cab is at rest at the first floor, where the cab bottom is a distance d = 2.8 m above a spring of spring constant k = 0.30 MN/m. A safety device clamps the cab against guide rails so that a constant frictional...
  19. R

    Relative motion in an elevator

    Homework Statement So I am in an elevator throwing a ball in an air, straight up and down, about 1 meter from my hand. The elevator is moving upwards at a rate of 2 m/s. From an observer on the ground, would they see the ball reach its peak at the same instant that I do? If not what is this...
  20. bananabandana

    Does Acceleration Affect the Stability of an Atwood Machine in an Elevator?

    Homework Statement Please see attached for diagram. We know that the elevator arm is horizontal when the lift is stationary, with ## M_{1}=\frac{4M_{2}M_{3}}{(M_{2}+M_{3})}## It wants us to find out if this is still the case when the lift is accelerated upwards at a constant velocity ##g##...
  21. Y

    Angular Velocity and Acceleration for Elevator Mechanism

    Homework Statement In a charming 19th-century hotel, an old-style elevator is connected to a counterweight by a cable that passes over a rotating disk 3.50m in diameter (the figure (Figure 1) ). The elevator is raised and lowered by turning the disk, and the cable does not slip on the rim of...
  22. L

    Relative Motion - Elevator Problem

    Homework Statement A lift in which a man is standing is moving upwards with a speed 10 m/s. The man drops a coin from a height of 4.9 m and if g = 9.8 m/s2 - then after what time does the coin reach the floor. Homework Equations x = 0.5*g*t2 x = ut + 0.5*g*t2 The Attempt at...
  23. S

    A glass marble is dropped down an elevator shaft

    Homework Statement [/B] A glass marble is dropped down an elevator shaft and hits a thick glass plate on top of an elevator that is descending at a speed of 2.10 m/s. The marble hits the glass plate 7.5 m below the point from which it was dropped. If the collision is elastic, how high will the...
  24. S

    Normal Forces Between Two People on Top of each other

    Homework Statement During an extreme stunt, a 45 kg cheerleader stands on the shoulders of a 55 kg cheerleader, while riding in a transparent elevator with an upward acceleration of 2 m/s2. Find the normal force between the cheerleaders and between the elevator and the bottom cheerleader...
  25. Mk

    How Can We Harness the Power of Space Elevators and Atmospheric Electricity?

    Hi PF, I've been tasked with joining a team in Budapest to design an endogenously powered space elevator. I was wondering if I could talk about some concepts with you while I prepare for the 1 month camp. http://copernicus.exosphe.re/ Right now I'm wondering if there is a way I can generate a...
  26. E

    Finding Displacement of Elevator in Accelerating Frame

    Homework Statement A boy standing in an elevator accelerating upward throws a ball upward with a vo. The ball returns to his hands after time t. The acceleration of the lift isHomework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution After time t, displacement of the ball = displacement of the lift vo t -...
  27. 1

    What's the point of building a space elevator?

    i don't get it, people say that it would be a god sent, but i don't get it, even if you are in space, you still need to travel at escape velocity, so you would still need to accelerate, and building a station on geostationary location is EXTREMELY FAR (i thin it was X3 the diameter of earth...
  28. Troy Barnes

    Why can't we make a space elevator using Quantum Levitation?

    Why can't we make a space elevator out of separate rings that are stacked over each other through Quantum Levitation? You know, have hollow rings that are quantum locked over each other, like in this video That way, the ladder freely moves around and changes shape, but would still be "intact"...
  29. P

    Low Jerk Elevator Ride: max speed & acceleration

    Homework Statement For a smooth (“low jerk”) ride, an elevator is programmed to start from rest and accelerate according to $$a(t) = \frac{a_m}{2}[1 − \cos{\frac{2\pi t}{T}}] \:\:\:\:0 ≤ t ≤ T$$ $$a(t) = -\frac{a_m}{2}[1 − \cos{\frac{2\pi t}{T}}] \:\:\:\:T ≤ t ≤ 2T$$ Where ##a_m## is the...
  30. S

    Comapring acceleration of person in elevator

    Homework Statement Two persons, each having mass 70 kg, stand in identical elevators. One stand normally, one hangs in the ceiling of elevator. How is the acceleration of them when the elevators move? a. Equal in magnitude and direction b. Equal in magnitude and opposite in direction c...
  31. J

    The elevator, the scale, and the wrong answer: Solving the Puzzle

    You walk into an elevator, step on a scale, and push the "up" button. You recall that your normal weight is 625N. If the elevator has an acceleration of magnitude 2.50 m/s^2, what does the scale read? I know how to solve this problem, but I don't know why I'm getting the wrong answer. I first...
  32. Cake

    Find the Height of the Elevator

    Homework Statement An elevator rises at a constant velocity. A marble is dropped from a hole in the elevator at time T_1. It accelerates downward at 9.8 m/s^2 and hits the floor at time T_2. Define the height at time T_1 Homework Equations y=y_0+v_0 t-1/2gt^2 The Attempt at a Solution So this...
  33. B

    Innovative Elevator Design: Pulley & Belt System

    I am designing an elevator system and i wanted to use timing belts with a counterweight. After almost fully completing the design it was brought to my attention that my pulley and belt setup was not the best choice. Any insight on what anyone thinks would be great! The top pulley and belt...
  34. Y

    How Do You Calculate Elevator Cable Tension for Maximum Acceleration?

    1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data An elevator(4850kg) is to be designed so that the maximum acceleration is 0.068m/s2. What are the minumum and maximum forces the motor must exert on the supporting cable? 2. Homework Equations Force = mass(acceleration) Forcevertical...
  35. C

    Stacked blocks on an accelerating elevator

    Homework Statement Four blocks of masses 20kg, 30kg, 40kg, and 50kg are stacked on top of one another in an elevator in order of decreasing mass with the lightest mass on the top of the stack. The elevator moves downward with an acceleration of ##3.2m/s^2## . Find the contact force between the...
  36. W

    How much gravity could a space elevator survive?

    No matter how strong and how light the materials are, it seems that a space elevator is an insurmountable engineering challenge on Earth under 1G of gravity. However that is because the gravity on Earth is too much for a space elevator to survive, given a somewhat modest estimation of...
  37. G

    Lift equation for elevator and rudder of a plane?

    I know that the lift equation for a single wing is L=Cl*0.5*A*r*V^2 where L is lift, Cl is the lift coefficient, A is the area, r is the air density, and V is velocity. Does this equation still apply to the elevator and rudder of a plane or is another equation used? If so, where can I find...
  38. H

    An inclined plane, fixed to the inside of an elevator, makes a 32 degrees angle

    Homework Statement An inclined plane, fixed to the inside of an elevator, makes a 32 degrees angle with the floor. A mass m slides on the plane without friction. What is its acceleration relative to the plane if the elevator accelerates upward at 0.50g? Homework Equations F = ma The Attempt...
  39. N

    Elevator Physics: Power & Mass Analysis

    Homework Statement The mass of the cab is 2000kg and the mass of the counterweight in an elevator is 2600kg. Assume the mass of the cab remains constant. The cab must descend a distance of 300m from the top floor to the bottom floor, and must do so at a constant speed of 10m/s. A)What must...
  40. B

    Scale in an elevator, time, mass, and velocity function given

    Homework Statement You are standing on a bathroom scale in an elevator in a small building. The elevator starts from rest and moves with a velocity given by v(t) = (3 m/s^2)t + (0.2 m/s^3)t^2. If your mass is 64 kg what is your weight at t=4.0 s as recorded by the scale (in N) Homework...
  41. S

    Unorthodox "space" elevator idea

    Would it be possible, instead of building a 22 thousand mile long space elevator, to make a large floating platform 15-20 miles high which would be supported by gigantic hydrogen balloons. You would then take off horizontally and travel into space from there since most of the energy costs are...
  42. U

    Can a Balloon Float Inside a Hollow, Air-Filled Space Elevator?

    What would the problems be with having a hollow cylindrical space elevator made of carbon (e.g. recent benzene linked chains) and instead of having the payload climb to the top you filled the inside with 1 ATM of air and floated to the top via balloon?
  43. L

    Solving the Elevator Problem: Weight Measurement

    I don't understand how the forces work in this problem. Gravity points down and I make it be negative direction. Then an equal but opposite force points up. Then there is another acceleration going down since the elevator is slowing down. This make the total acceleration downwards even larger...
  44. O

    Can Magnetic Hoops Create a Space Elevator to Geo Orbit?

    Would it be possible to have a stack of thin magnetic hoops that, when energized, space out from each other to reach geo orbiit Kinda like a magnetic slinky?
  45. Basimalasi

    Will a feather fly inside a free-falling elevator ?

    My friend and I had this question and after physics-fighting each other we came to a conclusion that the feather inside the elevator would not fly and it will stay in contact with the floor because they both have the same acceleration downwards and if we imagine that the feather was on a scale...
  46. gcombina

    Work done by a constant force/ The elevator (ch6, p2,pg 188)

    You are moving into an apartment and take the elevator to the 6th floor. Suppose your weight is 685 N and that of your belongings is 915N. (b) How much work does the elevator do on you alone (without belongings) on the downward trip, which is also made at a constant velocity? this is the...
  47. I

    Does a light beam bend in an accelerating elevator?

    My understanding is that a light beam will bend in an upward accelerating elevator. I told my uncle this. He responded that the velocity of the elevator cannot be added to the velocity of light since light's velocity always remains the same no matter the motion of the source or the observer...
  48. T

    Simple Pendulum in Elevator: Calculating Angular Amplitude with Acceleration

    Homework Statement A simple pendulum of length l is tied to the ceiling of an elevator which is at rest. The pendulum is oscillating with a time period T, and it has an angular amplitude β. Now at some time when the bob of the pendulum is at the mean position, the elevator suddenly starts...
  49. U

    How Is Work Calculated on an Elevator Cab in Physics Problems?

    The problem A 0.250 \operatorname{kg} block of cheese lies on the floor of a 900 \operatorname{kg} elevator cab that is being pulled upward by a cable through distance d_1 = 2.40 \operatorname{m} and then through distance d_2=10.5 \operatorname{m}. Through d_1, if the normal force on the block...
  50. N

    Can someone please explain the elevator paradox?

    I tried searching it up but the only good place i found was wikipedia that actually talked about it and i hate wikipedia because it tries to explain complex things in complex ways instead of making them simple. Thanks!
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