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Grade 11Mechanics

A block of mass m kg is kept on a weighing machine in an elevator. If the elevator is retarding upward by a ms^(-2), the reading of weighing machine is (in kgf)?
[Ans= m{1-(a/g)} Explain how]

Profile image of Vaibhav
7 Years agoGrade 11
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1 Answer

Profile image of Khimraj
7 Years ago
Motion in an elevator or lift :
1) If the man inside the lift falls freely under gravity without any upward force then the apparent weight is zero. 
2) If he falls with an acceleration a less than g then he experiences an upward force of m(g - a) and hence his apparent weight is m(g-a). 
3) If he moves up with an acceleration a he experiences an upward force of    m(g +a) and his apparent weight is equal to m(g + a). 
From the explanations above the answer is :
4) m(g +a)