What happens if i lift a weight on bathroom scales

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

When a person stands on bathroom scales and lifts a weight, the reading on the scales will increase. This occurs because the force exerted by the arms on the weight generates an equal and opposite reaction force, which results in a temporary increase in the total weight measured by the scales. Conducting this experiment will provide a practical demonstration of Newton's Third Law of Motion, confirming the relationship between force and weight measurement.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's Third Law of Motion
  • Basic knowledge of force and weight concepts
  • Familiarity with bathroom scales and their operation
  • Experience with simple physics experiments
NEXT STEPS
  • Conduct a practical experiment using bathroom scales to measure weight changes
  • Research Newton's Laws of Motion for deeper insights
  • Explore the mechanics of force and weight in physics
  • Investigate the calibration and accuracy of bathroom scales
USEFUL FOR

Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the principles of force and weight measurement through practical experimentation.

Michhcim
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Member warned to use the formatting template for homework posts.
If i am standing on bathroom scales and i lift a weight, what will it do to the reading on the scales?

I assume that lifting the weight will involve a force from my arm on to the weight, and an equal and opposite force will then push back, causing be to weigh more?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Why don't you try it as an experiment?
 
+1 to doing the experiment.Were is the weigh BEFORE you lift it?
 

Similar threads

Unbalanced force to find altitude of airplane
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Spacetime Physics (2nd ed.) problem 2-2: Bathroom scale and a Trampoline
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Elevator Motion and Bathroom Scale Readings
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
How Does Hill's Law Affect Lifting Different Weights?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Newton's Third Law for book on a table
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
High School Upwards movement -- Lifting weights while standing on a scale
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
Undergrad How to weigh a car topped boat?
  • · Replies 37 ·
2
Replies
37
Views
4K
Lifting a Beam with a uniform weight distribution
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
6K
How to Calculate Weight Transfer for Uprighting Vehicles with a Rotator Wrecker?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
High School How to Fulcrum weigh camper trailer on bathroom scales?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K