Q.Why is electrical power required at all when the elevator is descending? Why should there be a limit on the number of passengers in this case?
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Power Against Gravity
Power Against Gravity: The Intuition
Imagine you're lifting a bucket of water from a well. The bucket is heavy — gravity is pulling it down with a force equal to its weight. To lift it, you must apply an upward force that exactly cancels gravity. If you lift it slowly, you feel the strain for a long time. If you yank it up quickly, you feel a burst of effort, but it's over fast.
That "burst of effort per unit time" is what we call power. When you're working against a constant force like gravity, power tells you how fast you're doing that work.
Power is not the force itself, nor the work alone — it's the rate at which work is done. Lifting the same bucket to the same height requires the same total work, regardless of speed. But doing it faster requires more power.
The Precise Statement
When an object moves vertically against gravity (upward), the force you must supply is at least equal to the object's weight:
F=mg
where m is mass and g is acceleration due to gravity (9.8 m/s2 on Earth).
The work done to lift it through a height h is:
W=F⋅h=mgh
Now, power P is work per unit time. If you lift it in time t:
P=tW=tmgh
But th is just the upward speed v (assuming constant speed). So we get the compact form:
P=mg⋅v
This is power against gravity — the rate at which you must supply energy to lift a mass m at constant speed v against the pull of gravity.
What This Really Means
- It's a minimum. If you accelerate the object upward, you need even more force (Newton's second law), and hence more power. The formula P=mgv assumes you're lifting at steady speed — no acceleration.
- Direction matters. If the object moves downward at constant speed, gravity does the work, and you (or a brake) must absorb power. The formula still gives the magnitude, but the sign flips.
- It's independent of path. Only the vertical speed matters. Whether you lift straight up or along a ramp, the power against gravity depends only on the vertical component of velocity.
For a quick calculation: lifting a 10 kg mass at 0.5 m/s requires P=10×9.8×0.5≈49 watts. That's about the power of a dim incandescent bulb — and you'd feel it after a minute.
Common Mistake to Avoid …
Concept: Work-energy theorem and controlled motion under gravity.
When the elevator descends, gravity does positive work and would naturally accelerate it downward. To maintain a safe, constant speed (or decelerate when stopping), the motor must exert an upward force through the cable tension, doing negative work to oppose gravity. This requires electrical power.
The motor has a maximum power rating Pmax. For descent at constant velocity v, the required power is P=T⋅v, where tension T=Mg−Ma (with a the controlled deceleration or zero for uniform motion). Even at constant speed, T must support the load against gravity's excess. As passenger mass M increases, the required tension and hence power increase. …
Power is needed during descent to control speed (prevent free-fall) and to overcome friction; passenger limits exist because excessive load increases both the braking force required and frictional losses, potentially exceeding the motor's capacity.
Why power is needed when descending
When an elevator descends, gravity does the work of moving it downward—so at first glance it seems no power should be required. The key insight is that an elevator must descend at constant, safe speed, not accelerate freely under gravity.
Without active control, a loaded elevator would simply fall, accelerating at g until catastrophe. The motor must therefore exert an upward force to keep the descent smooth and controlled. Think of it as continuous braking: the motor opposes gravity just enough to maintain constant velocity.
Additionally, real elevators face friction—in the pulley bearings, along the guide rails, in the cable system. Even during descent, energy is continuously dissipated as heat through these resistive forces, and the motor must supply power to overcome them.
The physics of controlled descent
- Force balance at constant speed For an elevator of mass m descending at constant velocity, Newton's first law requires zero net force:
T−mg−f=0
where T is the upward cable tension (produced by the motor), mg is the weight, and f represents frictional forces. Rearranging: T=mg+f.
- Power requirement Power is force times velocity. The motor must supply:
P=T⋅v=(mg+f)⋅v
Even though gravity provides the downward motion, the motor does negative work (absorbs energy) to prevent acceleration. In practice, this energy is either dissipated in the motor's resistance or fed back into the electrical system (regenerative braking in modern elevators).
- Effect of increasing passenger load
More passengers means larger m, so:
- The required braking tension T=mg+f increases.
- Friction f often increases with load (more normal force on guide rails).
- The motor must handle greater power: P∝m.
A common misconception is that "gravity does all the work, so no power is needed." This ignores that uncontrolled descent is dangerous—power is essential for control, not just motion.
Why passenger limits matter during descent …
Concept: Controlled Motion and Power Requirements
Even a "falling" elevator must be actively controlled to descend at a
safe, steady speed rather than accelerate freely under gravity — that
control is what needs electrical power.
Step 1: Why free fall is not acceptable
If the motor simply let go, the loaded elevator would accelerate downward
under gravity (a=g) without limit — unsafe. So the descent must happen at
a controlled, essentially constant speed.
Step 2: Force balance for constant-speed descent
For an elevator of mass m (including passengers) descending at constant
velocity, Newton's first law requires zero net force:
T−mg−f=0⟹T=mg+f
where T is the upward cable tension supplied by the motor and f is the
friction in the pulleys/guide rails.
Step 3: Power needed to maintain this
Power delivered (or absorbed, in braking mode) is force times velocity:
P=T⋅v=(mg+f)v
The motor must supply this power continuously — either dissipating it as
heat or, in a regenerative system, feeding it back to the grid — purely to
prevent uncontrolled acceleration and to overcome friction.
Step 4: Effect of adding passengers
Increasing the number of passengers increases m, which:
- increases the required tension T=mg+f, …
- TG EAPCET 2025Set ap-2025-04-29-FN1 markMCQQ.The blades of a windmill generating electrical energy sweep out an area of 20m2. If the efficiency of the windmill is 25% and wind speed is 36kmph, then the electrical power generated is (Density of air =1.2kgm−3) (A) 120kW (B) 1200W (C) 300W (D) 3kW
›Reveal solutionSolution
Wind power =21ρAv3=12 kW; at 25% efficiency the electrical output is 3 kW — option (D).
Convert the wind speed: v=36 kmph=36×185=10 ms−1.
The kinetic power carried by the wind passing through the swept area A is
Pwind=21ρAv3
Substituting ρ=1.2 kg m−3, A=20 m2, v=10 ms−1: …
- TG EAPCET 2024Set ap-2024-05-07-FN1 markMCQQ.In a nuclear reactor of efficiency 25%, the number of fissions taking place per second is 5×1013. If 200 MeV energy is released per fission, then the output power of the reactor is (A) 6400 W (B) 1600 W (C) 800 W (D) 400 W
›Reveal solutionSolution
The output power is the electrical power delivered, which is the thermal power from fission multiplied by the efficiency. Thermal power = (fissions per second) × (energy per fission). With 25% efficiency, output power = 400 W → option (D).
The key idea is to separate thermal power (the raw energy released per second by fission) from output power (the useful electrical power after efficiency losses). The efficiency tells us what fraction of the thermal power is converted to electrical output.
- Find the thermal power produced by fission. Each fission releases 200 MeV of energy. The number of fissions per second is 5×1013. So the energy released per second (thermal power) is:
Pthermal=(5×1013)×(200 MeV)
Convert MeV to joules: 1 MeV=1.6×10−13 J.
Pthermal=5×1013×200×1.6×10−13 J/s
Simplify:
Pthermal=5×200×1.6×100=5×320=1600 W
So the reactor’s thermal power is 1600 W.
- Apply the efficiency to get output power. Efficiency η=25%=0.25. Output power is the useful electrical power:
- TG EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-12-AN1 markMCQQ.While a person climbs stairs, the gravitational potential energy of the person increases. The source of this energy is (A) Work done by normal force from the steps (B) Work done by frictional force from the steps (C) Work done by air resistance (D) Work done by internal forces within the person's body
›Reveal solutionSolution
The increase in gravitational potential energy when climbing stairs comes from chemical energy converted by the person’s muscles — internal forces do the work, not external forces like the normal or friction from the steps. The correct answer is (D).
Why this approach works
The key is to ask: What force actually does the work that increases the person’s gravitational potential energy?
Gravitational potential energy changes when the center of mass moves upward against gravity. The work done against gravity is mgh. But the force that directly lifts the person is not gravity — it’s the force the person’s legs exert on their own body. The stairs only provide a support (normal force), but that normal force does no net work on the person because the point of application (the foot) doesn’t move relative to the step while the force is applied (the step is stationary). So the real source is internal: the person’s muscles convert chemical energy into mechanical work.
Step-by-step reasoning
-
Identify the energy change
As the person climbs, their gravitational potential energy increases by ΔU=mgh. This energy must come from work done on the person by some force.
-
Check the normal force from the steps
The normal force acts perpendicular to the step’s surface. While the foot is in contact, the step does not move — the normal force is applied at a stationary point. Work is W=F⋅Δr, and here Δr=0 for the point of application. So the normal force does zero work.
Watch outA common mistake is to think the normal force “pushes you up.” But the step doesn’t move with you — your foot pushes down on the step, and the step pushes back, but that push does no work because the contact point is stationary. The work is done by your muscles lifting your body.
-
Check the frictional force
Friction prevents your foot from slipping, but it acts horizontally (parallel to the step surface). It does no vertical work. Even if friction helps you move forward, it doesn’t directly increase gravitational potential energy.
-
Check air resistance …
-
- TG EAPCET 2023Set ap-2023-05-11-FN1 markMCQQ.The maximum speed with which a car of mass 1000 kg can move on a circular track without slipping on a horizontal road having coefficient of static friction 0.5 is 7 ms−1. What is the static frictional force between the car tyres and the road when the speed of the car on the same track is 5 ms−1? (A) 4900 N (B) 2500 N (C) 250 N (D) Zero
›Reveal solutionSolution
Friction provides exactly the centripetal force needed at any speed below the maximum; at 5 m/s the car requires 2500 N toward the centre, so static friction supplies precisely that amount.
Why friction adjusts to what the car needs
Static friction is a responsive force. It doesn't always act at its maximum value μsN; instead, it supplies exactly the force required to prevent slipping, up to that maximum limit. When a car rounds a curve, the tyres need an inward (centripetal) force to keep the car on the circular path. Static friction between the tyres and the road provides this force—as much as needed, but no more—until the demand exceeds μsN, at which point the tyres slip.
The maximum speed tells us the radius of the track. At that speed, friction is pushed to its limit: fmax=μsmg=rmvmax2. Once we know r, we can find the actual friction required at any lower speed.
Finding the friction at 5 m/s
-
Extract the radius from the maximum-speed condition.
At vmax=7m/s, static friction is at its limit:
μsmg=rmvmax2.
Cancel m and solve for r:
r=μsgvmax2=0.5×10(7)2=549=9.8m.
-
Calculate the centripetal force needed at 5 m/s.
At v=5m/s on the same track (same r=9.8m), the required centripetal force is
Fc=rmv2=9.81000×(5)2=9.81000×25=9.825000≈2551N.
- Recognize that static friction supplies exactly this force. …
-
- TG EAPCET 2023Set eng-2023-05-12-FN1 markMCQQ.The displacement ‘s’ of a body of mass 3 kg under the action of a force is given by s=3t3, where ‘s’ is in metres and ‘t’ is in seconds. The work done by the force in the first two seconds is (A) 32 J (B) 3.8 J (C) 5.2 J (D) 24 J
›Reveal solutionSolution
The work done is the change in kinetic energy. Using the given displacement s=t3/3, we find velocity v=t2, then kinetic energy at t=2 s is 24 J, so the answer is 24 J.
Concept & Intuition
Work done by a force on a body equals the change in its kinetic energy (work–energy theorem). Since we are given displacement as a function of time, we can differentiate to get velocity, then compute kinetic energy at the start and end of the interval. No need to find the force explicitly — that’s the elegant shortcut.
Step-by-step solution
- Find velocity from displacement Displacement: s=3t3. Velocity is the time derivative:
v=dtds=dtd(3t3)=t2 m/s.
- Kinetic energy at any time Mass m=3 kg. Kinetic energy:
K=21mv2=21⋅3⋅(t2)2=23t4 J.
- Work done in first two seconds At t=0: K(0)=0 (body starts from rest). At t=2 s: K(2)=23⋅(2)4=23⋅16=24 J. …
- TG EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-20-AN1 markMCQQ.A pump on the ground floor of a building can pump up water to fill a tank of volume 36m3 in 30min. If the tank is 50m above the ground, and the electric power consumed by the pump is 40kW, the efficiency of the pump is (Use g=10m/s2 and density of water =1000Kg/m3) (A) 30% (B) 25% (C) 33% (D) 40%
›Reveal solutionSolution
The efficiency of a pump is the ratio of the useful power output (rate of increasing water's potential energy) to the total electrical power input. By calculating the potential energy gained by the water and the time taken, we find the useful power output, which leads to an efficiency of 25%.
The efficiency of any machine, including a pump, tells us how effectively it converts the energy supplied to it into useful work. In this problem, the pump consumes electrical energy (input power) to lift water against gravity, thereby increasing its potential energy (useful output power). The efficiency is simply the ratio of this useful output power to the total input power.
Here's how we calculate the pump's efficiency:
-
Identify the given quantities and the goal.
We are given:
- Volume of water (V) = 36m3
- Time taken (t) = 30min
- Height the water is lifted (h) = 50m
- Electric power consumed by the pump (Pinput) = 40kW
- Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 10m/s2
- Density of water (ρ) = 1000Kg/m3
Our goal is to find the efficiency (η) of the pump.
-
Convert all units to the SI system for consistency.
- Time: t=30min=30×60s=1800s
- Input Power: Pinput=40kW=40×103W=40000W
-
Calculate the mass of water pumped.
The mass (m) of the water can be found using its volume and density:
m=ρ×V
m=1000Kg/m3×36m3=36000Kg
- Calculate the potential energy gained by the water. When water is lifted to a height h, its gravitational potential energy (PE) increases. This is the useful work done by the pump.
PE=mgh
$$PE = 36000\, \mathrm{Kg} \times 10\, \mathrm{m/s}^2 \times 50\, \mathrm{m}$$ … -
- TG EAPCET 2021Set ap-2021-08-09-FN1 markMCQQ.A machine gun fires 360 bullets per minute. Each bullet travels with velocity of 500 m/s. If the power of the machine gun is 4.5 kW then the mass of each bullet is: (A) 2g (B) 5g (C) 6g (D) 10g
›Reveal solutionSolution
The power of the gun equals the rate at which it gives kinetic energy to the bullets. Using P=21nmv2 with n=6 bullets per second, v=500 m/s, and P=4500 W, we find m=0.006 kg = 6 g, so the correct option is (C).
The key idea is that the machine gun’s power is the rate at which it does work — here, that work goes entirely into the kinetic energy of the bullets. Since each bullet starts from rest inside the gun and leaves at 500 m/s, the energy per bullet is 21mv2. The power tells us how much energy is transferred per second, so if we know how many bullets are fired per second, we can solve for the mass of one bullet.
- Find the number of bullets per second. The gun fires 360 bullets per minute.
n=60360=6 bullets per second.
- Express the power in terms of bullet mass and speed. The kinetic energy of one bullet is 21mv2. In one second, n bullets are fired, so the energy given to them per second (which is the power) is:
P=n⋅21mv2.
- Substitute the known values. P=4.5 kW=4500 W, v=500 m/s, n=6.
4500=6⋅21⋅m⋅(500)2.
- Simplify and solve for m. First, (500)2=250000. Then 21×250000=125000. So:
4500=6×125000×m=750000m.
m=7500004500=750045=5003=0.006 kg. …
- TG EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-06-AN1 markMCQQ.A force acts on a body of mass 15kg, initially at rest. If the instantaneous power due to the force at the end of the third second is 5W then the instantaneous power (in W) at the end of the fourth second will be (A) 6.33 (B) 6.67 (C) 6.29 (D) 6.94
›Reveal solutionSolution
For a body starting from rest under a constant force, the instantaneous power is directly proportional to time. Using this relationship, the power at the end of the fourth second is 6.67W.
The problem asks for the instantaneous power at a specific time, given the power at another time, for a body starting from rest under the action of a force. To solve this, we need to understand how instantaneous power, force, and velocity are related, and how these quantities change with time when a body starts from rest.
Concept and Intuition
Instantaneous power (P) is defined as the rate at which work is done by a force, and it can be expressed as the dot product of the force vector (F) and the instantaneous velocity vector (v):
P=F⋅v
If the force and velocity are in the same direction (as is the case when a force acts on a body initially at rest and causes it to move in the direction of the force), this simplifies to P=Fv.
When a constant force F acts on a body of mass m, it produces a constant acceleration a given by Newton's second law:
F=ma⟹a=mF
If the body starts from rest (initial velocity u=0), its velocity v at any time t is given by the kinematic equation:
v=u+at⟹v=at
Now, we can substitute these relationships into the power equation. Since a=F/m, we have v=(F/m)t.
Substituting this into P=Fv:
P=F(mF)t
P=(mF2)t
This crucial relationship shows that for a constant force acting on a body initially at rest, the instantaneous power is directly proportional to time (P∝t). This is the key insight to solve the problem.
Step-by-step Derivation
-
Identify the given information:
- Mass of the body, m=15kg.
- Initial state: at rest (u=0).
- Instantaneous power at the end of the third second, P3=5W (at t3=3s).
- We need to find the instantaneous power at the end of the fourth second, P4 (at t4=4s).
-
Assume a constant force:
In the absence of information about how the force varies, it is standard to assume that the force acting on the body is constant. This simplifies the problem significantly and allows us to use the kinematic equations for constant acceleration.
-
Relate force, acceleration, and velocity:
- Since the force F is constant and the mass m is constant, the acceleration a=F/m is also constant.
- As the body starts from rest (u=0), its velocity v at time t is given by:
v=at
- Derive the expression for instantaneous power: The instantaneous power P due to the force is given by:
P=Fv
Substitute the expression for $v$ from the previous step:P=F(at)
Now, substitute $a = F/m$: $$P = F \left(\frac{F}{m}\right)t$$ … -
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