Question

An elevator accelerates upward at 2.0 m/s?,
as illustrated in the diagram below:
The passenger has a mass of 85 kg.
Calculate the force the floor exerts on the
passenger.

Answer 1

Answer:

Force the floor exerts on the  passenger is 833 N.

Explanation:

• Weight of passenger ($F_{g}$) = mg = 85 × 9.8 N = 833 N

• Force the floor exerts on the  passenger ($F_{N}$) = ?

• For the elevator with the speed as 2.0 m/s the net force is zero, it means that the force is balanced.

                                       i.e. $F_{N}$ = - $F_{g}$ = -mg = 833 N

                                       hence  $F_{N}$ is 833 N

• If the lift was not at a constant speed i.e. if it had acceleration ($m/s^{2}$)  then the case would be different.