Question

You are riding in an elevator that is accelerating upward. Suppose you stand on a scale. The reading on the scale is __________.

Answer 1

Given the following choices;

A) less than your true weight, mg.

B) equal to your true weight, mg.

C) more than your true weight, mg.

D) could be more or less than your true weight, mg, depending on the value of the speed.

The answer is; C

This is due to G-force. These are the perception of the weight of an object that is accelerating against gravity. We experience 1 g force on the surface of the earth because the ground exerts an upward exertion against gravity preventing as from falling to the center of the earth.  

Answer 2

Answer:

C) more than your true weight, mg.

Explanation:

To understand this exercise, we propose that two vertical forces act, the first is the gravitational force Fg and the other is the normal force N, which is defined as the apparent weight that will mark the balance. If the force is equal to:

F = mxa

Where:

F: force (N)

m: mass (kg)

a: acceleration (m / s²)

And the gravitational force is equal to:

Fg = mxg

The normal force N shown by the balance is given by the following considerations (positive up and negative down), as follows:

N - Fg = mxa

Substituting the equation of Fg:

N - mxg = mxa

Clearing the normal force N:

N = mx (a + g)

From this equation it is concluded that if the elevator goes up, the acceleration value "a" will be positive. In this way, when the elevator goes up, the balance marks a greater value.