Moving Elevator, Gravity and Acceleration - Newtons laws

[170559]

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Hi guys, can someone explain the elevator accelerating upwards scenario? I don't have the exact Q, But i came across something like:

A person inside a elevator measures his weight on a weighing scale at rest on the ground and its 100pounds. If the elevator is accelerating upwards with an acceleration a what is the weight of the person measured on the weighing scale at time t/distance h. (i.e. does it increase or decrease) Thanks!

 

[BloodySurgeon]

Hi guys, can someone explain the elevator accelerating upwards scenario? I don't have the exact Q, But i came across something like:

A person inside a elevator measures his weight on a weighing scale at rest on the ground and its 100pounds. If the elevator is accelerating upwards with an acceleration a what is the weight of the person measured on the weighing scale at time t/distance h. (i.e. does it increase or decrease) Thanks!

Just look at the two forces of on the vertical direction. There is N pointing up (the weight displayed on a weighing scale) and mg (your actual weight). If the elevator is accelerating upwards then: N-mg=ma. If the elevator is accelerating downwards then mg-N=ma.

If N-mg=ma then N = m(g+a) : accelerating up
If mg-N=ma then N = m(g-a) : accelerating down

Now it is easier to visualize what is happening. If the elevator is moving up the weight on the scale will increase while the scale weight will decrease moving down.

 

[170559]

Thanks!