Emergency elevator safety feature calculations

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the calculations for emergency elevator safety features, highlighting the importance of including mass in the force equation F_y = mv_y(dv_y/dy). Participants emphasize that the problem can be simplified using constant acceleration equations, specifically SUVAT, rather than overcomplicating it. There is a mention of the equivalence between energy methods and force approaches, particularly in relation to the work-energy theorem. The conversation also notes an instruction to use the equation F = vdv/dx, which should correctly include mass. Overall, the key takeaway is the necessity of incorporating mass in calculations for accurate results.
Achintya
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Homework Statement
The cable of a 4,000 kg elevator snaps when the elevator is at rest on the first floor so that the bottom is a distance d = 12.0 m. A safety device claps the guide rails so that a constant frictional force of 10,000 opposes the motion of the elevator.(g=10 m/s^2)

a) What is the speed of the elevator just before it hits the ground?
Relevant Equations
PLEASE DON'T SOLVE THIS USING CONSERVATION OF ENERGY METHOD...IF POSSIBLE SOLVE THIS USING THE FORCE VELOCITY RELATION(F=vdv/dx)
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Did you forget the mass in ##F_y = mv_y\frac{dv_y}{dy}##?

It seems you're slightly overcomplicating it too. It's a constant acceleration question, so you can do it in one line of SUVAT!

Also, you say not to solve it using 'energy' methods, but the relation you've derived from considering forces is (save for that missing factor of ##m##) a statement of the work energy theorem. Hopefully you can see that energy approaches and forces approaches are often completely equivalent!
 
etotheipi said:
Did you forget the mass in ##F_y = mv_y\frac{dv_y}{dy}##?

It seems you're slightly overcomplicating it too. It's a constant acceleration question, so you can do it in one line of SUVAT!

Also, you say not to solve it using 'energy' methods, but the relation you've derived from considering forces is (save for that missing factor of ##m##) a statement of the work energy theorem. Hopefully you can see that energy approaches and forces approaches are often equivalent!
thank a lot sir ...i just didn't realize that thing... i know it was silly.
 
etotheipi said:
It seems you're slightly overcomplicating it too. It's a constant acceleration question, so you can do it in one line of SUVAT!
There's an instruction to use F=vdv/dx (which, as you say, should be mvdv/dx).
 
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