Final answer:
The tension in the elevator cable at constant velocity equals the gravitational force on the elevator, calculated as the product of its mass and the acceleration due to gravity.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an elevator is pulled upwards at a constant velocity, the forces acting on it are balanced. The force of tension in the cable, in this scenario, is equal to the gravitational force acting on the elevator, which is the product of the mass of the elevator and the acceleration due to gravity (g = 9.81 m/s²). Therefore, if an elevator filled with passengers has a mass of 1700 kg, the tension in the cable would be simply the weight of the elevator and its passengers (T = m × g), which would be 1700 kg × 9.81 m/s² = 16677 N. During constant velocity, there is no acceleration, so the only force to counteract is gravity.