A 84.0-kg person stands on a scale in an elevator. What is the apparent weight when the elevator is
(a) accelerating upward with an acceleration of 1.40 m/s2,
N
(b) moving upward at a constant speed, and
N
(c) accelerating downward with an acceleration of 1.50 m/s2?

Question

A 84.0-kg person stands on a scale in an elevator. What is the apparent weight when the elevator is
(a) accelerating upward with an acceleration of 1.40 m/s2,
  N
(b) moving upward at a constant speed, and
  N
(c) accelerating downward with an acceleration of 1.50 m/s2?

anonymous · Answer

alright so i dont have a calculator with me so i'm going to just write down the equations.

a) F=ma = 84*(9.8+1.40)
m = F/9.8

b) only acceleration will affect the weight constant speed in any direction will not. so therefore m=84kg

c) same as par (a) only this time since the elevator is moving down, you will feel much lighter as you are going against gravity, so just minus 1.5m/s/s from 9.8m/s/s so
F=ma=84*(9.8-1.50)
m=F/9.8

done

anonymous · Answer

makes sense? if not let me know, i can try to explain more.

anonymous · Answer

Thank you so much and yes it does! :)

anonymous · Answer

glad i could help.