A person stands on a bathroom scale in a motionless elevator

A person stands on a bathroom scale in a motionless elevator. When the elevator begins to move, the scale briefly reads only 0.72 of the person\'s regular weight. Calculate the magnitude of the acceleration of the elevator. m/s^2

Solution

Apparent weight

R = mg -ma

ma = mg - R

= mg-0.72mg

acceleration

a = 0.28*9.8

= 2.744m/s²