Avoiding Elevator Problems: Solving for Force and Acceleration in an Elevator

[Toxage]

I'm having trouble with this problem:

A 80.0 kg person stands on a scale in an elevator.
(e) What does it read when the elevator is accelerating downward at 3.5 m/s2? In KG

I set it up as EF = ma , but it doesn't work out...

EF = MA

 

[heth]

How did you get on with parts (a) to (d) of the question? It would probably be useful to show some working and thought processes for those parts of the question, then people will have a better idea of how to help.

 

[krausr79]

When an elevator goes downwards, you feel lighter. Note that all the person's weight normally comes from gravity acceleration. Find the modified acceleration of the elevator and gravity together, then compare that with just gravity.