Force Question Using weight and acceleration

[rcruz101]

Question: A 50 kg person stands on an elevator. How much force does she exert if the elevator accelerates upward at 1 meter per second squared?



I know she exerts 50 kg of force while the elevator is stationary, but I don't know the formula for when the elevator moves.

 

[ideasrule]

Draw a free body diagram on the person and write out Newton's second law. Remember that the force the ground exerts on the person is equal to the force the person exerts on the ground.