Final answer:
The maximum capacity of the elevator is 3600lb, indicating the weight it can carry without risk. Understanding this concept falls under physics, as it relates to forces and mechanics in elevator operations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The maximum capacity of the elevator is 3600lb. This figure is the maximum weight that the elevator can safely carry. It is important not to exceed this weight limit to prevent any potential danger or malfunction of the elevator system. The concept of maximum capacity is crucial to understand when studying physics, as it involves concepts of force and mechanical systems.
Discussing how the weight reading on a scale might change under different conditions of elevator movement ties into Newton's Laws of Motion. For instance, if someone standing on a scale in an accelerating elevator the scale reading would be higher than their actual weight because the scale has to exert additional force to accelerate the person upwards. Conversely, if the elevator is moving at a constant velocity, the reading on the scale would reflect the true weight of the person, which in physics corresponds to the gravitational force acting on them at rest. It is clear that the maximum capacity of an elevator must account for the dynamic forces involved during its operation.