Apparent weight in an accelerating elevator
A 70 kg person stands on a scale in an elevator accelerating upward at 2 m/s². Using g = 10 m/s², what does the scale read?
Answer D: explanation for every choice
A
This is only the net force, ma.
B
This uses m(g − a), the reading when accelerating downward.
C
This is the person's weight at rest or at constant velocity.
D
Correct. N − mg = ma, so N = m(g + a) = 70 × 12 = 840 N.
TakeawayAccelerating upward: N = m(g + a). Downward: N = m(g − a).
Equation usedNewton's second law
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