How does the spring scale read in different elevator scenarios?

  • Thread starter Thread starter trixid
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Elevator Spring
AI Thread Summary
In an elevator moving at a constant upward or downward speed, a spring scale will read the weight of the woman, which is 58 kg multiplied by gravity (approximately 568 N). When the elevator accelerates upward at 0.33g, the scale will read a higher value due to the additional force from the acceleration. Conversely, during downward acceleration of 0.33g, the scale will read a lower value as the effective weight decreases. In free fall, the scale will read zero because the woman experiences weightlessness. Understanding these principles involves applying Newton's second law, where force equals mass times acceleration.
trixid
Messages
12
Reaction score
0
What will a spring scale read for teh weight of a 58 kg woman in an elevator that moves (a) with a constant upward speed of 6.0 m's, (b) with a constant downward speed of 6.0 m/s, (c) with upward acceleration of 0.33g, (d) with downward acceleration of 0.33g, and (e) in free fall?

I'm having trouble with a and b. (c and d are easy enough because the g is given and e is weightless because it's free fall.) I don't know where to start!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Force equals mass times acceleration. The scale will read the weight of the woman (NOT mass)

plus her mass times acceleration upward.

minus her mass times acceleration downward.

with no acceleration (just constant speed) the scale will read her weight.

In free fall, mass times downward acceleration equals weight so there would be no reading.
 
The balance provides all the tension to the man,R.
That's to say, R-F=net force
 
primarygun said:
The balance provides all the tension to the man,R.
That's to say, R-F=net force

But there was no man!
 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

Elevator Motion and Bathroom Scale Readings
Replies
2
Views
2K
Work / Energy Elevator / Spring Problem
Replies
5
Views
4K
Calculating the Velocity of an Elevator
Replies
35
Views
5K
I Mass of Backpack in Moving Elevator
Replies
10
Views
2K
Oscillating Spring Block System inside elevator
Replies
8
Views
5K
Forces, elevator, acceleration -- I have the answer, just explain it....
Replies
2
Views
12K
How do you know when k in Hooke's law is positive or negativ
Replies
2
Views
3K
Weighing machine in an elevator
Replies
6
Views
2K
How Many Springs Are Needed to Safely Stop a Falling Elevator?
Replies
5
Views
2K
Apparent weight of a man standing in an elevator
Replies
24
Views
7K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top