A 620 N physics student stands on a bathroom scale in an elevator that is supported by a cable. The combined mass of student plus elevator is 870 kg. As the elevator starts moving, the scale reads 450 N. Required:
a. Find the acceleration of the elevator (magnitude and direction).
b. What is the acceleration if the scale reads 670 N?
c. If the scale reads zero, should the student worry? Explain.
d. What is the tension in the cable in parts (a) and (c)?

(a) 9.28 m/s2

(b) 9.03 m/s2

(c) 9.8 m/s2

(d) 450 N, 670 N

Explanation:

mass of elevator + student, m = 870 kg

Reading of scale, R = 450 N

(a) When the elevator goes down, the weight decreases.

Let the acceleration is a.

By the Newton's second law

m g - R = m a

870 x 9.8 - 450 = 870 a

a = 9.28 m/s2

(b) R = 670 N

Let the acceleration is a.

870 x 9.8 - 670 = 870 a

a = 9.03 m/s2

(c) If the scale reads zero, it mean the elevator is falling freely. The acceleration is downwards and its value is 9.8 m/s2.

(d) Tension in cable is 450 N and 670 N.