A rope is used to lift a big toy upward. What forces act on the toy? (neglect air resistance)

A rope is used to lift a big toy upward. What forces act on the toy? (neglect air resistance)

• A. Friction and gravity
• B. Gravity only
• C. Tension and gravity
• D. Normal force and gravity

Answer: (C)

When a rope is used to lift an object, the forces on the object in the vertical direction are gravity pulling downward and the rope’s tension pulling upward. Air resistance is neglected here, so there’s no drag. The normal force or friction would require the toy to be in contact with a surface or moving along one, which isn’t the situation when you’re lifting it with a rope. Therefore, the only forces acting are tension and gravity. The net force is the upward tension minus the weight, which determines the acceleration of the toy.

When a rope is used to lift an object, the forces on the object in the vertical direction are gravity pulling downward and the rope’s tension pulling upward. Air resistance is neglected here, so there’s no drag. The normal force or friction would require the toy to be in contact with a surface or moving along one, which isn’t the situation when you’re lifting it with a rope. Therefore, the only forces acting are tension and gravity. The net force is the upward tension minus the weight, which determines the acceleration of the toy.