Question

A person who weighs 800 N steps onto a scale that is on the floor of an elevator car. If the elevator accelerates upward at a rate of 5 m/s^2, what will the scale read?

400 N
800 N
1000 N
1200 N
1600 N

Answer 1

Therefore, the provided options (400 N, 800 N, 1000 N, 1200 different from N, 1600 N) are the correct reading. Please double-check the choices or the problem statement for accuracy.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the reading on the scale, we must consider the forces acting on the person in the elevator. There are two main forces: the gravitational force (mgmg) and the normal force exerted by the scale. Gravitational force (mgmg):

The person weights 800 N, and the gravitational force (mgmg) acts downward.

Fgravity=mg=800 NFgravity​=mg=800NNormal force (NN):

The normal force is the force exerted by the scale on the person. In this case, it includes both the person's weight and the force due to the upward acceleration of the elevator. Since the elevator is accelerating upward, the normal pressure will be greater than the gravitational force.

Fnormal=m(g+a)Fnormal​=m(g+a)

Fnormal=800 N+(800 N)(5 m/s2)Fnormal​=800N+(800N)(5m/s2)Fnormal=800 N+4000 N=4800 NFnormal​=800N+4000N=4800NSo, the scale will read 4800 N.