A 6m long rope of weight 0.5kg/m is hanging freely from a support. The...
Calculation of Work Done in Lifting a Rope
The problem involves lifting a rope of weight 0.5kg/m and length 6m from the ground to a support point. The work done to lift the rope is calculated as follows:
Step 1: Calculate the weight of the rope
The weight of the rope is the product of its length and weight per unit length. Therefore, the weight of the rope is:
Weight of rope = 0.5 kg/m x 6 m = 3 kg
Step 2: Calculate the work done to lift the rope
The work done to lift the rope is the product of the weight of the rope and the height to which it is lifted. Since the rope is lifted vertically, the height lifted is equal to the length of the rope. Therefore, the work done is:
Work done = Weight of rope x Height lifted = 3 kg x 6 m = 18 J
Step 3: Interpretation of the result
The result obtained is the work done in lifting the rope from the ground to the support point. The unit of work is Joule (J), which is the product of Newton and meter. The work done in lifting the rope is equal to the potential energy gained by the rope. Therefore, the potential energy gained by the rope when lifted to the support point is 18 J.