An elevator is designed to carry a maximum weight of 9800 N (including its own weight), and to move upward at a speed of 5 m/s after an initial period of acceleration. What is the relationship between the maximum tension in the elevator cable and the maximum weight of the elevator while the elevator is accelerating upward?

Explanation

To move upward with acceleration, the elevator needs a net force in the upward direction. The tension in the cable is responsible for supporting the elevator's weight and providing the additional force needed for acceleration. Therefore, the tension must be more than 9800 N during acceleration. Option A is correct because it recognizes the necessity of a tension greater than the elevator's weight to provide the required upward force. Option B is incorrect as tension less than 9800 N would not support the elevator's weight. Option C is incorrect because tension equal to the weight would only suffice for a stationary or constant-speed scenario. Option D is incorrect because the problem provides sufficient information to determine the relationship between tension and weight during acceleration.