Question

At the bow of a ship on a stormy sea, a crewman conducts an experiment by standing on a bathroom scale. In calm waters, the scale reads 178 lb During the storm, the crewman finds a maximum reading of 220 lb and a minimum reading of 134 lb Part A Find the magnitude of the maximum upward acceleration experienced by the crewman. 2 Qup Submit Request Answer

Answer 1

Part A.

Using force balance on crewman in vertical direction

Fnet = Wa - W = m*a

a = (Wa - W)/m

W = weight in calm water = 178 lb

Wa = max weight = 220 lb

m = mass of crewman = W/g

So,

a = g*(Wa - W)/W

a = 9.81*(220 - 178)/178

a = 2.31 m/sec^2

Part B

when downward motion

Using force balance

Fnet = Wa - W = -m*a

a = (W - Wa)/m

a = g*(W - Wa)/W

Wa = min weight = 134 lb

a = 9.81*(178 - 134)/178

a = 2.42 m/sec^2

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