Question

A rescue helicopter is lifting a man with 86 kg mass from a capsized boat by means of a cable and harness. What is the tension in the cable when the man is given an initial upward acceleration of 1.35 m/s2

Answer 1

The man is pulled upward by a net force of

∑ F = (86 kg) (1.35 m/s²) = 116.1 N

The net force is comprised of the tension T in the cable and the man's weight W, such that

∑ F = T - W = 116.1 N

T = (86 kg) (9.80 m/s²) + 116.1 N

T = 958.9 N ≈ 960 N