A person who normally weighs 700 N is riding in a rather swift elevator that is moving at a constant speed of 9.8 m/s.If this person is standing on a bathroom scale inside the elevator,what would the scale read?
A)more than 700 N
B)less than 700 N
C)700 N
D)It could be more or less than 700 N,depending on whether the elevator is going up or down.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The person's weight does not change just because they are in a moving elevator. The scale measures the normal force acting on the person, which is equal to their weight. Therefore, the scale reading would be the same as the person's weight, which is 700 N in this case. The elevator's constant speed does not affect the normal force acting on the person, so the answer is not dependent on whether the elevator is going up or down.

A Person Who Normally Weighs 700 N Is Riding in a Rather