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Grade 12th passMechanics

An elevator descends with uniform velocity.what can you say about the lost potential energy?

Profile image of Vaidehi
9 Years agoGrade 12th pass
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Profile image of Pranav Vajreshwari
ApprovedApproved Tutor Answer9 Years ago
If the elevator was freely falling, then the lost potential energy would be directly converted into kinetic energy. But as the elevator is desceding with uniform velocity, there must be some external force ( equal to the weight of the elevator ) acting on it in upward direction ( This force is being exerted by the cable or string that the elevator is tied to ). This force does negative work on the elevator and thus, cancels out the gained kinetic energy.