Question

A 50-kg student stands on a scale in an elevator. At the instant the elevator has a downward acceleration of 1.0 m/s²  and an upward velocity of 3.0 m/s, the scale reads approximately

(A) 350 N 

(B) 450 N 

(C) 500 N 

(D) 550 N 

(E) 650 N

Answer 1

Correct option (B) 450 N

Elevator physics: F_N represents the scale reading. ΣF = ma; F_N – mg = ma, or F_N = m(g + a).

The velocity of the elevator is irrelevant.