Tension In A Rope Calculator
Work out tension in a rope instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
About Tension In A Rope Calculator
A rope lifting a mass carries the weight plus whatever is needed to accelerate it: T = m(g + a). Hoisting 80 kg while accelerating upward at 1.5 m/s2 puts 905 N in the rope against 785 N when merely holding. Lowering with deceleration adds tension too; only free fall drops it to zero.
Formulas
Rope tension
T = m(g + a)
Static case
T = mg when a = 0
Worked example
With the default values below, Tension In A Rope Calculator returns Rope Tension of 904.53. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Mass being liftedminimum 0 kg
- 80 kg
- Upward acceleration
- 1.5 m/s2
Results
- Rope Tension
- 904.53 N
- Tension When Simply Hanging
- 784.53 N
- Extra Tension From Accelerating
- 120.00 N
- Same Tension In Kilogram-Force
- 92.237
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Rope tension
- 3Static case
- 4Rope Tension= 904.53 N
- 5Tension When Simply Hanging= 784.53 N
- 6Extra Tension From Accelerating= 120.00 N
- 7Same Tension In Kilogram-Force= 92.237
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 2 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the tension change if the load moves at constant speed?
No. Constant velocity means zero acceleration, so the tension is just the weight, whether rising or falling.
What happens with negative acceleration?
Decelerating an ascent or accelerating a descent reduces tension. At a = -g the rope goes slack and the load is in free fall.