Gravity's affect on weight in an elevator

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    Elevator Weight
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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on how weight changes in a moving elevator, specifically addressing a 20lb dumbbell on a scale. When the elevator ascends, the effective weight increases due to the additional force from the elevator's acceleration, while descending results in a decrease in effective weight. The principles of Newton's second law and free-body diagrams are essential for understanding these changes in weight as they relate to gravitational forces.

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  • Understanding of Newton's second law
  • Familiarity with free-body diagrams
  • Basic concepts of gravitational force
  • Knowledge of acceleration and its effects on weight
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  • Learn how to draw and interpret free-body diagrams
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Homework Statement



For this problem I need to figure out how weight changes in a moving elevator. So for example if I had a 20lb dumbbell on a scale and went up 3 floors would the actual weight of the dumbbell change? How would this show on the scale. Then I have the same question except this time the elevator is going down? I really just need the basic concept of how gravity affects the weight. Thanks.


Homework Equations



No equations needed, its just a theory problem.

The Attempt at a Solution

 
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Hi bholloway, welcome to PF.

When the elevator is not moving, which forces are acting on the weight.
When the elevator is moving upwards, which additional forces are present? Can you describe their magnitude in terms of the acceleration of the elevator? Can you also then compute the total force (hint: Newton's second law) which the block feels (draw a free-body diagram) and the corresponding acceleration (if you want, the "effective" gravity).
 

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