Question

(Newton's Law of Motion) A person stands on a scale in an elevator. When the elevator is at rest, the scale reads 700 N. When the elevator starts to move, the scale reads 600N. (a) Is the elevator going up or down? Show your solution to support your answer. (b) What is its acceleration? ...?

Answer 1

There are three forces that are present in this system. The scale experiences a downwards force of 600N on it from the person, during initial motion; therefore it exerts an equal and opposite force on this person. We write the equation as follows:

−mg+600N=ma
a=(−100N/70Kg)
a=−1.4m.s−2