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ineken
Oct 4, 2011, 10:29 AM
A 65 kg man stands on a spring scale in an elevator. Starting from rest, the elevator ascends, attaining its maximum speed of 1.2 m/s in 0.89 s. It travels with this constant speed for 5.0 s, undergoes a uniform negative acceleration for 1.2 s, and comes to rest. What does the spring scale register in each of the following time intervals?
(a) before the elevator starts to move
N
(b) during the first 0.89 s
N
(c) while the elevator is traveling at constant speed
N
(d) during the negative acceleration
N

ebaines
Oct 4, 2011, 12:28 PM
In each case you get your answer is found using F = ma, where 'a' (acceleration) has two components: the acceleration due to gravity - called 'g' - plus the acceleration of the elevator - call it a_e. Hence the force with which the man's body pressses down on the scale is equal to F = m(g+a_e)

In question (a) the acceleration due to the elevator is 0. So what do you get for F?

In question (b) you need to add the acceleration of the elevator a_e, which you can determine based on the data you've been given. You add a_e because the acceleration is upward, so it takes a greater force to be applied between the scale and the man to accelerate him upward.

Can you finish it out from here?

ineken
Oct 4, 2011, 12:59 PM
Yes I got it thank you