A person of mass stands on a bathroom weighing scale placed inside an elevator
PHYSICS · Multi-part · AP · Physics 1: Algebra-based · Force and Translational Dynamics · Force and Translational Dynamics
Problem
A person of mass 60kg stands on a bathroom weighing scale placed inside an elevator. The scale reads the normal reaction exerted by the floor on the person.
(i) Calculate the scale reading when the elevator is moving upward with an acceleration of 2m s−2. Take g=9.8m s−2.
(ii) Calculate the scale reading when the elevator is moving downward with an acceleration of 3m s−2.
(iii) Determine the magnitude and direction of the elevator’s acceleration for which the scale would read zero.