72.2k views
2 votes
A 750 newton passenger rides in an elevator (that is 22,000 newtons). If the elevator ride is 95 seconds long and uses 7,700 watts of power, how far did the elevator move?

User Ozgur Sar
by
7.8k points

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

Using the formula for power, the elevator moved a total distance of 32.2 meters.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate how far the elevator moved using the given power and time, we should apply the formula for power in terms of work done over time. The power provided by the elevator is defined as the rate at which it does work, which is the product of the force and the distance moved (height) divided by time:



Power = Work/Time

Where Work = Force × Distance.

Since the elevator is only lifting itself and the passengers vertically, the force in question is the weight of the elevator acting downwards due to gravity.

First, calculate the total force acting on the elevator, which is the weight of the passenger plus the weight of the elevator:

Total weight = Weight of passenger + Weight of elevator

Total weight = 750 N + 22,000 N = 22,750 N

Next, rearrange the power equation to solve for distance:

Distance = (Power × Time) / Force

Insert the known values into the equation:

Distance = (7,700 W × 95 s) / 22,750 N

Distance = 732,500 J / 22,750 N

Distance = 32.2 meters

Therefore, the elevator moved a total distance of 32.2 meters.

User Mbtamuli
by
7.9k points