- #1
discoverer02
- 138
- 1
Here's the problem:
A balloon is descending with constant acceleration, a, (which of course is less than g). The weight of the balloon, with its basket and contents, is w1. In order to cause the balloon to accelerate upward with the same accelerations, a, what weight (call it w2 in your solution) of ballast needs to be released? Neglect air resistance. (You need to put in an unknown buoyant force on the balloon.)
The way I figure it there are two forces acting on the balloon there's the F up, and w1 or (w1 - w2) acting downward. When I use Newton's second law with just these two forces I get w2 = 2ma. The answer that I'm supposed to get is w2 = 2w1a/(g+a).
F - w1 = -ma, F - (w1 - w2) = ma
F = w1 - ma ===> w1 - ma -w1 + w2 = ma ==> w2 = 2ma.
I'm missing something. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
A balloon is descending with constant acceleration, a, (which of course is less than g). The weight of the balloon, with its basket and contents, is w1. In order to cause the balloon to accelerate upward with the same accelerations, a, what weight (call it w2 in your solution) of ballast needs to be released? Neglect air resistance. (You need to put in an unknown buoyant force on the balloon.)
The way I figure it there are two forces acting on the balloon there's the F up, and w1 or (w1 - w2) acting downward. When I use Newton's second law with just these two forces I get w2 = 2ma. The answer that I'm supposed to get is w2 = 2w1a/(g+a).
F - w1 = -ma, F - (w1 - w2) = ma
F = w1 - ma ===> w1 - ma -w1 + w2 = ma ==> w2 = 2ma.
I'm missing something. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks