Question

What will a spring scale read for the weight of a 58.0-kg woman in an elevator that moves (a) upward with constant speed 5.0 m/s, (b) downward with constant speed 5.0 m/s, (c) with an upward acceleration 0.23 g, (d) with a downward acceleration 0.23 g, and (e) in free fall?

Answer 1

Force equals mass times acceleration. The scale will read the weight of the woman (NOT mass) plus her mass times acceleration upward. minus her mass times acceleration downward. with no acceleration (just constant speed) the scale will read her weight. In free fall, mass times downward acceleration equals weight so there would be no reading.