A bucket is being lowered by a very light rope with a constant downward velocity. The force that the rope exerts on the bucket must be
A)equal to the force that Earth exerts on the bucket.
B)greater than the force that Earth exerts on the bucket.
C)less than the force that Earth exerts on the bucket.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Since the bucket is moving with a constant velocity, it means there is no acceleration. According to Newton's second law, the net force must be zero. Therefore, the force the rope exerts on the bucket must exactly balance the gravitational force Earth exerts on the bucket, making them equal.

A Bucket Is Being Lowered by a Very Light Rope