PHYSICS · Single correct · CBSE · Physics · Laws of Motion · Laws of Motion
Problem
A uniform chain hangs motionless from the ceiling. Which of the following best explains why the tension in the topmost link is greater than the tension in a link halfway down the chain?
(a) The top link must support the weight of all the links beneath it, so a larger upward force is required.
(b) Because the ceiling exerts an additional downward reaction force on the top link, the link must pull harder to balance both this force and the weight of the chain below.
(c) The chain stretches slightly under its own weight; by Hooke’s law the extension (and therefore the tension) is greatest near the point of suspension.
(d) Air pressure is slightly higher near the ceiling, so the top link experiences an extra downward push that must be balanced by a larger tension.