The equivalence principle says that a person in an elevator that is in free fall feels the sameacceleration as:
A)a person in an elevator going up with an acceleration of g.
B)a person in space, far from any gravitational source accelerating at g.
C)a person in an elevator going down with an acceleration of g.
D)a person in space, far away from any gravitational source with no acceleration.
E)a person in orbit of Earth accelerating at g upward.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The equivalence principle, as proposed by Einstein, states that the effects of gravity are indistinguishable from the effects of acceleration. Therefore, a person in an elevator in free fall (experiencing gravity but no resistance or other forces) would feel the same as a person in space (where there is no gravity) who is accelerating at 9.8 m/s^2 (g), mimicking the acceleration due to Earth's gravity.

The Equivalence Principle Says That a Person in an Elevator