Chapter 15. Tension, Pulleys and Problem Solving: Changing direction
Sometimes you need to deal with the tension in a situation So far, you’ve been using forces, free body diagrams and energy conservation to solve problems. In this chapter, you’ll take that further as you deal with ropes, pulleys, and, yes, tension. Along the way, you’ll also practice looking for familiar signposts to help navigate your way through complicated situations.
It’s a bird... it’s plane...
...no, it’s... a guy on a skateboard?!
A new high-risk sporting event has come to town. The challenge? Jump off an 11.0 m pier and hit a target floating in the sea 15.0 m from the foot of the pier. Michael, a daredevil and skateboarding fiend, plans to take home the first place prize.
Michael wants to give himself a predictable launch velocity so he can be sure of hitting the target in the water. He’s attached a skateboard to one end of a rope, put a large stack of masses at the other end, and placed a pulley in between.
The problem is, Michael’s not so great at physics. And that’s where you come in... can you help Michael out?
Here’s what SHOULD happen...
Always look for something familiar
This problem involves a skateboard, a ...
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