Question

An elevator having a weight of 5 tons accelerates upward at a rate of 5 ft/s^2. What is the tension on the cable if it is accelerating downward the same rate?

Answer 1

acceleration due to gravity is 32.174 ft/s^2
if acceleration the elevator experiences is then 32.174 ft/s^2 - 5ft/s^2 = 27.174 ft/s^2

Answer 2

use F = ma to calculate tension
F = 5tonnes * 27.174 ft/s^2

Answer 3

convert 5 tonnes to whatever units you need to of course