Stuck on Elevator Weight - Analyzing the Readings

[hatingphysics]

I am having trouble answering this question...what is the answer?! HELP


Suppose you are in an elevator that is moving upward with a constant velocity. A scale inside the elevator shows your weight to be 600 N. (a) Does the scale register a value that is greater than, less than, or equal to 600 N during the time when the elevator slows down as it comes to a stop? (b) What is the reading when the elevator is stopped? (c) How does the value registered on the scale compare to 600 N during the time when the elevator picks up speed again on its way back down? Give your reasoning in each case.

 

[courtrigrad]

Draw a free body diagram. What forces are acting on the person?

 

[kyle8921]

I can provide some insights and explanations to help answer these questions. Firstly, we need to understand the concept of weight and how it is affected by the motion of the elevator. Weight is a force that is determined by the mass of an object and the acceleration due to gravity. In this case, the person's weight is 600 N because the elevator is moving at a constant velocity, meaning there is no acceleration.

(a) When the elevator slows down as it comes to a stop, the scale will register a value that is less than 600 N. This is because the elevator is no longer moving at a constant velocity and is experiencing a negative acceleration (deceleration). The person's weight will decrease because the force of gravity is now being counteracted by the force of the elevator's deceleration.

(b) When the elevator is stopped, the scale will register a value of 600 N. This is because the elevator is no longer moving and there is no acceleration, so the person's weight remains the same.

(c) When the elevator picks up speed again on its way back down, the scale will register a value that is greater than 600 N. This is because the elevator is now experiencing a positive acceleration (acceleration downwards) and the person's weight will increase due to the additional force of gravity acting upon them.

In summary, the scale will register a value that is less than, equal to, and greater than 600 N during the elevator's deceleration, stationary, and acceleration phases, respectively. This is because the elevator's motion and acceleration affect the person's weight, which is reflected on the scale. I hope this helps to clarify the concept and provide a better understanding of the situation.