Question

an elevator accelerates upward at 3m/s2 for a brief time. a 500 N women standing on bathroom scales notices the reading is not what she expected. what do the scales read?

Answer 1

An elevator accelerates upward at $3\mathrm{m/s}^2$ for a brief time. A 500 N women standing on bathroom scales notices the reading is not what she expected. What do the scales read?

Answer:

Such as the weight is: $P = mg$ the acceleration of elevator is added to acceleration of free falling and the scales read the weight: $P = m(g + a)$ were $a -$ acceleration of elevator.

$$m = \frac{P}{g} = \frac{500}{9.8} = 51 \, kg$$

The weight reading the scales on elevator is: $P = m(g + a) = 51 * (9.8 + 3) = 652.8 \, N$