Final answer:
The force exerted by the cable on the elevator is 2000 N.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the force exerted by the cable on the elevator, we can use Newton's second law, which states that force is equal to mass times acceleration.
In this case, the mass of the elevator is 500 kg and the acceleration is 4.0 m/s².
So, the force exerted by the cable on the elevator is:
Force = mass × acceleration
Force = 500 kg × 4.0 m/s²
Force = 2000 N
Therefore, the force exerted by the cable on the elevator is 2000 N.