Question

a 75kg person is standing on a scale in an elevator, the scale gives a readout in newtons(you have to use a free body diagram)determine the reading on the scale in newtons in each of the following situations, when the elevator is not moving, the elevator is moving upward at 2 m/s, the elevator is moving downward at 2 m/s, the elevator is accelerating upward at 2 m/s^2,the elevator is accelerating downward at 2 m/s^2, if the reading on the scale is 840 newtons determine the elevator's acceleration

Answer 1

assume g=9.8m/s^2, and acceleration is + upwards.

Weight=m(g+a)

notice constant motion(ie speed) is not a factor in the equation.