Final answer:
The force on a 1000kg elevator freely falling at an acceleration of 9.8 m/s^2 due to gravity is calculated using Newton's second law (F = m * a) and equals 9800 Newtons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The force on an elevator with a mass of 1000kg that is falling freely at an acceleration of 9.8 meters per second squared (m/s2) due to gravity can be calculated using Newton's second law of motion, which states that the force (F) is the product of the mass (m) and the acceleration (a).
Therefore, in free fall where the only force acting on the object is that due to gravity, the force can be calculated using the equation: F = m * a.
Given:
Mass of the elevator, m = 1000kg
Acceleration due to gravity, a = 9.8 m/s2
The force acting on the elevator is:
F = 1000kg * 9.8 m/s2 = 9800 Newtons (N).
Thus, the force on the elevator is equal to 9800 N, which is also the weight of the elevator.