When the elevator is moving, we will weigh our normal weight . Since we are already moving at the same speed as the elevator (up or down), nothing is affecting us to change our weight. ... So for a short time, we are pushed into the floor more and our weight goes up. The same thing works when the elevator starts moving.
Do you weigh more on an elevator?
If you stand on a scale in an elevator accelerating upward, you feel heavier because the elevator’s floor presses harder on your feet, and the scale will show a higher reading than when the elevator is at rest. ... The force exerted by the scale is known as apparent weight; it does not change with constant speed.
Does your apparent weight change when you ride an elevator?
Your apparent weight does not change while riding in an elevator at constant velocity, but it does change while riding in an accelerating elevator. ... This means that the floor pushes on you with a force that is not equal to your weight – your apparent weight changes.
Why do you feel heavy in an elevator?
If you stand on a scale in an elevator accelerating upward, you feel heavier because the elevator’s floor presses harder on your feet , and the scale will show a higher reading than when the elevator is at rest. ... The force exerted by the scale is known as apparent weight; it does not change with constant speed.
Does normal force change in an elevator?
When the elevator is accelerating, there is a net upward force from the acceleration as well as the normal force to counter gravity. The normal force generates an upward acceleration . When moving at a constant speed, there is no upward acceleration and the normal force acts only to counter gravity.
How does your weight change inside an accelerating falling elevator?
If you stand on a scale in an elevator accelerating upward, you feel heavier because the elevator’s floor presses harder on your feet, and the scale will show a higher reading than when the elevator is at rest. ... The force exerted by the scale is known as apparent weight; it does not change with constant speed.
What would a scale read in a falling elevator?
The scale reads the Normal force , so it reports your weight as greater than it was at rest. The same two forces are at work as when the elevator was accelerating up. The scale will read the Normal force which is less than it was at rest.
Why do we feel weightless in an elevator?
When your body is effectively in “free fall”, accelerating downward at the acceleration of gravity , then you are not being supported. ... If the elevator cable breaks then both you and the elevator are in free fall.
Why does your weight feel different in a moving elevator?
If you stand on a scale in an elevator accelerating upward, you feel heavier because the elevator’s floor presses harder on your feet , and the scale will show a higher reading than when the elevator is at rest. On the other hand, when the elevator accelerates downward, you feel lighter.
Why do we feel weightless in a falling elevator?
Earth-orbiting astronauts are weightless for the same reasons that riders of a free-falling amusement park ride or a free-falling elevator are weightless. They are weightless because there is no external contact force pushing or pulling upon their body . ... The force of gravity is the only force acting upon their body.
Would you float in a falling elevator?
You do not really float , you simply travel at the same speed as the elevator. Your feet are touching the floor of elevator applying a force to keep you upright.
What is the apparent weight of a person when an elevator is accelerating downwards?
If the elevator accelerates downward, a is negative , and the apparent weight is less than the true weight. If the elevator falls freely, , and the apparent weight is zero. The apparent weight is zero because when both the person and the scale fall freely, they cannot push against one another.
Is work done on a person in an ascending elevator?
The elevator has to perform more work in the moment the person is accelerating upwards , but then again less work when stopping at the top, i.e. decelerating. In total, the work performed by the elevator is therefore the same as if the person was standing still the whole time.
Is upward acceleration positive or negative?
When an object is speeding up, the acceleration is in the same direction as the velocity. Thus, this object has a positive acceleration . In Example B, the object is moving in the negative direction (i.e., has a negative velocity) and is slowing down.
Is normal force equal to weight?
The normal force is usually symbolized by N . In many cases the normal force is simply equal to the weight of an object , but that’s only when the normal force is the only thing counteracting the weight. ... The normal force is the force that would be measured by a scale placed between the objects in contact.
How do you find the weight of a person in an elevator?
If you stand on a scale in an elevator accelerating upward, you feel heavier because the elevator’s floor presses harder on your feet, and the scale will show a higher reading than when the elevator is at rest . ... The force exerted by the scale is known as apparent weight; it does not change with constant speed.
