Final answer:
The trailer bouncing up and down slowly is likely heavily loaded due to greater inertia, which explains why it oscillates less. In the case of an elevator, acceleration affects the perceived weight and the tension in the cable, with greater tension during upward acceleration and reduced tension during downward acceleration. These phenomena are explained using Newtonian mechanics.
Step-by-step explanation:
To understand the behavior of a freight elevator or a trailer on a highway, we must apply principles of physics. For instance, when observing a freight truck trailer bouncing up and down slowly, it is more likely to be heavily loaded. A heavier load tends to dampen the oscillations due to greater inertia, causing the system to bounce less frequently. Conversely, an empty or lightly loaded trailer will bounce more readily as there is less mass to resist the bouncing motion.
With respect to elevators, when considering changes in tension, we note different elevational behaviors. If an elevator accelerates upward, passengers feel heavier, and the tension in the cable increases. If it accelerates downward, passengers feel lighter, and the tension decreases. During constant velocity motion, either upward or downward, passengers feel their normal weight, and the tension equals the weight of the elevator and its contents.
Finally, calculations involving mass, acceleration, and displacement can be used to determine forces such as tension, work, and energy. These are all concepts anchored in the Newtonian mechanics domain of physics.