Question regarding the elevator acceleration resultant force

AI Thread Summary
When an elevator accelerates upwards, a man standing on a weighing scale experiences an upward resultant force, making him feel "heavier." This sensation occurs because the normal force acting on him increases, while he does not perceive his own weight directly. In contrast, if he were in free fall, he would experience weightlessness due to the absence of a contact force. It's crucial to distinguish between weight and the normal force, as the latter is what the man feels. Understanding this concept clarifies why he feels heavier in an accelerating elevator.
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Question regarding the "elevator" acceleration resultant force

Homework Statement



In the "elevator" case, when a man is standing on a weighing scale, and the elevator accelerate upwards, the resultant force acting on the man will be UPWARD force, and the man is feeling "HEAVIER". So here is my question. Since the resultant force acting on the man is UPWARD force, isn't the man suppose to feel "LIGHTER", since there is a UPWARD force "supporting" him. If I got the whole concept wrong, please explain to me with the correct concept, thanks in advance .

Homework Equations



none.

The Attempt at a Solution



been thinking for 2 hours and I just can't understand
 
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i don't get the question
 


The man 'feels' the contact force acting upward on him, the normal force. He does not 'feel' his own weight. If he was standing in a still elevator, he would feel the contact force acting on him, which is his weight in this case. If he jumped from a building, there would be no contact force at his feet, so even though he still has weight , he wouldn't feel any force acting on him, so that would make him feel very light, feeling like he had no weight at all, in a state of so called 'weightlessness", even though he always has weight. Don't confuse weight with normal forces.
 


PhanthomJay said:
The man 'feels' the contact force acting upward on him, the normal force. He does not 'feel' his own weight. If he was standing in a still elevator, he would feel the contact force acting on him, which is his weight in this case. If he jumped from a building, there would be no contact force at his feet, so even though he still has weight , he wouldn't feel any force acting on him, so that would make him feel very light, feeling like he had no weight at all, in a state of so called 'weightlessness", even though he always has weight. Don't confuse weight with normal forces.

Thank you very much dude! this clear things up, thank you very much :)
 
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