# Why would his weight be zero at the moment of the fall?

## Homework Statement

A person of weight w is in an upward-moving elevator when the cable suddenly breaks. What is the person's apparent weight immediately after the elevator starts to fall?

Chestermiller
Mentor

## Homework Statement

A person of weight w is in an upward-moving elevator when the cable suddenly breaks. What is the person's apparent weight immediately after the elevator starts to fall?
How would you personally define the term "apparent weight?"

How would you personally define the term "apparent weight?"
I think that's the key to answering the question, though I am not sure I interpreted properly. I think it means the weight relative to the force of gravity that acts on it in particular instance.

Chestermiller
Mentor
I think that's the key to answering the question, though I am not sure I interpreted properly. I think it means the weight relative to the force of gravity that acts on it in particular instance.
That's not correct. It means that, if he was standing on a scale, what the scale would read (i.e., the normal force the person would be exerting on the scale, and, by Newton's 3rd law, the normal force the scale would be exerting on the person). That's the definition of his apparent weight.

So, what is the normal force that the scale is exerting on the person if the elevator cable has been cut?

That's not correct. It means that, if he was standing on a scale, what the scale would read (i.e., the normal force the person would be exerting on the scale, and, by Newton's 3rd law, the normal force the scale would be exerting on the person). That's the definition of his apparent weight.

So, what is the normal force that the scale is exerting on the person if the elevator cable has been cut?
I think the person and the elevator would be free falling an so there would be no contact force?

Chestermiller
Mentor
I think the person and the elevator would be free falling an so there would be no contact force?
Yes. That is correct. So what does that mean regarding the "apparent weight" of the person, considering the apparent weight is equal to the contact force.

Yes. That is correct. So what does that mean regarding the "apparent weight" of the person, considering the apparent weight is equal to the contact force.
It will be zero! Thank you so much for your help.
I get it now.