When an acrobat hangs motionless from a pair of rings
A) she has no measurable weight.
B) her weight depends on the angles the ropes make with the ceiling.
C) her weight is reduced by the upward force the rings exert on her.
D) her weight is increased by the upward force the rings exert on her.
E) she exerts a gravitational force on the Earth that is equal to the sum of the forces the rings exert on her.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When an acrobat hangs motionless from a pair of rings, she is in a state of equilibrium, meaning the net force acting on her is zero. However, her weight (the force due to gravity) does not change regardless of her being in motion or at rest. The force the rings exert on her is an upward force balancing her weight, and according to Newton's third law, she exerts an equal and opposite force on the Earth. Therefore, the gravitational force she exerts on the Earth is equal to her weight, which is the same as the sum of the forces the rings exert on her.

When an Acrobat Hangs Motionless from a Pair of Rings