A bucket of mass is lowered down a well through a vertical distance of at constant…
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
A bucket of mass 8kg is lowered down a well through a vertical distance of 10m at constant speed by means of a light rope. Take g=9.8ms−2.
(a) Identify the two main forces acting on the bucket while it is being lowered.
(b) Calculate the work done by the gravitational force on the bucket for the 10m descent and state the sign of this work.
(c) Calculate the work done by the tension in the rope for the same displacement and state the sign of this work.
(d) Explain how the signs obtained in parts (b) and (c) are consistent with the directions of the respective forces relative to the displacement.