3. Elevator You\'re standing on a scale in an elevator. Your apparent weight ref

Question

3. Elevator You're standing on a scale in an elevator. Your apparent weight refers to the reading on the scale, which may change depending on how the elevator is moving. If the elevator is standing still, we call the reading on the scale you weight, so your weight and apparent weight when the elevator is standing still. a. If the elevator is moving at a constant velocity, is your apparent weight the same b. If the elevator is accelerating upward, is your apparent weight the same as your c. If the elevator is accelerating downward, is your apparent weight the same as your d. Is it possible for your apparent weight to be zero? If so, explain how the elevator as your weight? If not, is it larger or smaller? Explain. weight? If not, is it larger or smaller? Explain. weight? If not, is it larger or smaller? Explain. must be moving for this to happen. If not, explain why not. e. Let Wa be your apparent weight, and let W be your weight. Let A, be the accel- eration of the elevator relative to the Earth (we take it's motion to be along the y-direction. Determine an expression for Wa in terms of W, Ay, and f. Use your result from part e. to compute a rough estimate of the maximum apparent weight you feel when you ride on the PAB main elevators from the 1st floor to the 4th floor. Kudos if you try to test your estimate in the PAB elevators (there are Suite" that have accelerometers that enable you phone apps, like “Physics Toolbox to do this sort of thing quite easily!

Explanation / Answer

a)

at constant velocity , a = 0

so Fn - mg = ma

Fn = mg

apparent weight is same as the weight

b)

Fn - mg = ma a = positive

hence Fn = mg + ma

apprent weight is greater than the weight

c)

Fn - mg = ma a= negative

hence Fn = mg + ma

apprent weight is smaller than the weight

d)

Fn - mg = ma

at a = - g

Fn - mg = - mg  

hence Fn = 0

e)

Wa - W = m Ay

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