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The world’s tallest lighthouse is located in Japan and is 106 m tall. A winch that provides 300 W of power is used to raise 25.0 kg of equipment to the lighthouse top at a constant velocity. How long does it take the equipment to reach the lighthouse top?

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To solve this problem, we can use the formula for mechanical power:

Power = Force x Velocity

Since the equipment is being raised at a constant velocity, we can assume that the force applied by the winch is equal and opposite to the force of gravity acting on the equipment:

Force = Weight of equipment = m * g

where m is the mass of the equipment and g is the acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s^2).

Substituting the given values, we get:

Force = 25.0 kg * 9.81 m/s^2 = 245.25 N

Power = 300 W

Velocity = ?

We can solve for the velocity by rearranging the formula:

Velocity = Power / Force

Velocity = 300 W / 245.25 N

Velocity = 1.22 m/s

Now, we can use the formula for average speed to find the time it takes for the equipment to reach the lighthouse top:

Average speed = Total distance / Total time

Since the equipment is moving vertically, the total distance is equal to the height of the lighthouse:

Total distance = 106 m

We can solve for the total time by rearranging the formula:

Total time = Total distance / Average speed

Total time = 106 m / 1.22 m/s

Total time = 86.9 seconds (rounded to 2 decimal places)

Therefore, it takes approximately 86.9 seconds, or 1 minute and 27 seconds, for the equipment to reach the top of the lighthouse.

User Joel Glovacki
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