Final answer:
A Force vs Time graph cannot directly determine top speed, mass, or distance traveled for an elevator. Top speed and distance would require a Velocity vs Time graph, while mass calculation needs the elevator's acceleration and force values from Newton's second law.
Step-by-step explanation:
To understand how a Force vs Time graph can be used to find the top speed, mass, and distance traveled by an elevator, we must clarify that the provided statements (a), (b), and (c) are not entirely accurate. Here is the corrected interpretation:
- The top speed cannot be directly determined from the Force vs Time graph. The top speed is found on a Velocity vs Time graph, which can be determined by calculating the area under the Acceleration vs Time graph, assuming you know the initial velocity.
- The mass is not determined by the area under the Force vs Time graph. However, if the acceleration is known (from the slope of the Velocity vs Time graph), Newton's second law (force = mass × acceleration) can be used to calculate mass if the force is known.
- Distance traveled by the elevator can be found using integration, but not directly from the Force vs Time graph. Instead, distance (or displacement) is the integral of the Velocity vs Time graph, not Force vs Time.
Therefore, a Force vs Time graph alone does not provide enough information to directly determine an elevator's top speed, mass, or distance traveled without additional data and calculations.