Elevators & Apparent Weight

Front

What is the net force acting on an object?

Back

The net force is the vector sum of all the forces acting on an object, determining its acceleration and direction of motion.

Front

What is the normal force?

Back

The normal force is the force exerted by a surface to support the weight of an object resting on it, acting perpendicular to the surface.

Front

What does it mean for an elevator to be not accelerating?

Back

An elevator that is not accelerating is either at rest or moving at a constant velocity, resulting in no net force acting on it.

Front

What happens to the scale reading when an elevator accelerates upward?

Back

When an elevator accelerates upward, the scale reading increases, showing a weight greater than the normal weight due to the additional force from acceleration.

Front

How does downward acceleration of an elevator affect perceived weight?

Back

When an elevator accelerates downward, occupants feel lighter than normal because the normal force decreases as the elevator moves down.

Front

What is apparent weight?

Back

Apparent weight is the weight an object seems to have when in a non-inertial frame of reference, such as an accelerating elevator.

Front

What is the relationship between acceleration and net force?

Back

According to Newton's second law, the net force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration (F=ma).

Front

How does gravity affect the normal force in an elevator?

Back

In an elevator, the normal force is affected by gravity and the acceleration of the elevator; it increases when accelerating upward and decreases when accelerating downward.

Front

What is the effect of a constant speed on the forces in an elevator?

Back

When an elevator moves at a constant speed, the net force is zero, and the normal force equals the gravitational force acting on the occupants.

Front

What is the formula for calculating weight?

Back

Weight is calculated using the formula W = mg, where W is weight, m is mass, and g is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s²).