Final answer:
The answer to the student's initial question about the mass of the elevator, excluding passengers, cannot be determined with the information given. The physics concepts applied to an elevator's movement involve Newton's second law of motion and the resulting tension changes in the cable during different states of acceleration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Elevator Physics and Tension in Cables
The question concerns the mass of an elevator and its passengers which is given as 1550 kg. If you are asked for the mass of just the elevator, the answer cannot be determined from the information provided as it includes the mass of the passengers as well. To answer the student's initial question directly, the option would be 2) 'Cannot be determined' since we do not know the mass of the passengers separate from the elevator.
To address the integrated concepts regarding an elevator's movement, tension in the cable, and the effects of acceleration on scale readings, we can apply Newton's second law of motion. This law states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on it and inversely proportional to its mass.
For example, when an elevator accelerates upward, the tension in the supporting cable increases because it must support not only the weight of the elevator and its contents but also provide the additional force needed for the acceleration. Conversely, when the elevator is moving at constant velocity, the tension in the cable equals the weight of the elevator and its contents, because at constant velocity, the net force is zero.
Using these principles, we can calculate tensions in various scenarios and determine the effects on a person's perceived weight while inside the accelerating elevator.