a 700 N man stands on a scale on the floor of an elevator. The scare records the force it exerts on whatever is on it. What is the scale reading if the elevator has an acceleration of 1.8 m/s squared up ? I need help with what formula (s) to use to get the answer. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

To accelerate up, the sale needs to exert an upward force equal to his weight (m g) PLUS m a, where a is the acceleration.

Thus the measured weight it
F = m (g + a)

Now, since m = (700 N)/g

F = 700 N + 700 N (a/g)
= 700 [1 + (a/g)] N

In your case, a = 1.8 and g = 9.8, both in m/s^2