Question

A man weighs an apple with a spring scale attached to the ceiling of an elevator.

At rest, the scale reads 0.9 N. If the scale then reads 1.5 N when the elevator accelerates upwards at a constant rate, find this acceleration.

Answer 1

Here,

let the acceleration of the upwards is a

Now, as N = 1.5

W = 0.90 N

as m = W/g = 0.90/9.8 = 0.092 Kg

Now, balacing the forces

N = W + mg

1.5 = 0.90 + 0.092 * a

solving for a

a = 6.52 m/s^2

the acceleration is 6.52 m/s^2