A Student on a Bathroom Scale in an Elevator
Calculating the Acceleration of the Elevator
A student stands on a bathroom scale in an elevator at rest on the 64th floor of a building. the scale reads 849 N. as the elevator moves up, the scale reading increases to 934 N, then decreases back to 849 N. the acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s2. Find the acceleration of the elevator. Answer in units of m/s2.
Actual weight W = mg = 849 N
Mass m = 849 / g = 86.54 kg
Apparent weight m (a+g) = 934 N
So, (a + g) = 934 / m = 10.79
From this, acceleration a = 10.79 - g
Therefore, a = 10.79 - 9.8= 0.9827 m/s2
What is the acceleration of the elevator in this scenario?
The acceleration of the elevator is 0.9827 m/s2.