Asked by Not telling you

A person weighs 150 pounds. He is standing on a scale inside an elevator. If the elevator is free-falling downward (perhaps the cable broke), what is the reading of the scale?

150 pounds

about 25 pounds

0 pounds

not enough info
Answered by Damon
Total force on person = m g = m a in free fall. No external force on person from scale
Answered by Not telling you
so 150?
Answered by Damon
No !!! ZERO no force on scale - in free fall, accelerating downward at 9.81 m/s^2
Answered by Damon
Like - "weightless" :)
Answered by Damon
Backup link :)

http://www.jiskha.com/display.cgi?id=1282164495
Answered by Not telling you
Oh so 0 pounds :)
Answered by Damon
Yes 0
free falling
weightless :)
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