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brijmohan123456
Feb 12, 2013, 02:38 PM
In one of the physics book I read the following article on variation of weight in lift.I request uyou also please see it & answer my query.
It was written that
"In a lift the actual weight of the person=mg.This acts on the weighing machine which offers a reaction R given by the weighing machine & this is the apparent weight of the person".
After this the variation of R was given in different case.Here I want to ask that as R is the reaction force given by machine in response to actual weight of the person=mg,so it must be same but how it can be different.I was not able to understand mathematically so can anyone please explain it to me logically.
thank you

ebaines
Feb 12, 2013, 03:04 PM
Since you mention a lift I assume that the question has to do with how R changes under vertical acceleration or deceleration. Keep in mind the famous equation: \sum \vec F = m \vec a. The forces acting on the person's feet are his weight pressing down (weight = mg) and the reaction force of the scale pressing up (R).

Case 1: If R = mg then the sum of forces is 0, and from F=ma that means acceleration is zero, and so either the lift is stationary or traveling at a constant rate of speed.

Case 2: If R is greater than mg then the sum of forces is positive in the upward direction and the man must therefore have positve acceleration upward. Convesely - if the man has positive acceleration then R > mg. Note that positive acceleration could mean either his upward velocity is increasing or his downward velocity is decreasing.

Case 3: If R < mg then the reaction force is not sufficient to hold the weight of the man and he accelerates downward. Conversely - when the car accelerates downward R < mg.