Elevator extra credit
You and a friend (or a parent) ride an elevator in a tall building. Take digital photographs (or videotape) of a scale with you standing on it when the elevator is:
A. not moving.
B. accelerating up (right when it first starts moving).
C. going at constant velocity.
D. accelerating down (right when it first starts moving).
The change in weight that you see while the elevator is accelerating is the net force that occurs due to the acceleration. Use this change in weight(Net Force) to calculate the accelerations of the elevator going both up and down, using the Net F = ma equation. To do this, you must convert your weight and the readings of the scale during the steps above to Newtons. Also find your mass in kg.
Conversions:1 kg = 2.2 pounds (on Earth)
1 pound = 0.45 kg (on Earth)
1 pound ~ 4.5 N (on Earth)
Write up your results, including what building you went to and how many floors it has. You might have to do several trials, since other people using the elevator might disturb the acceleration (i.e. if the elevator is forced to stop at every floor). Be sure to show all your calculations for full credit. Include pictures (or videotape) of your non-moving weight, and your weight during the up and down accelerations. Also draw force diagrams for parts A-D.
Elevator extra credit
You and a friend (or a parent) ride an elevator in a tall building. Take digital photographs (or videotape) of a scale with you standing on it when the elevator is:
A. not moving.
B. accelerating up (right when it first starts moving).
C. going at constant velocity.
D. accelerating down (right when it first starts moving).
The change in weight that you see while the elevator is accelerating is the net force that occurs due to the acceleration. Use this change in weight (Net Force) to calculate the accelerations of the elevator going both up and down, using the Net F = ma equation. To do this, you must convert your weight and the readings of the scale during the steps above to Newtons. Also find your mass in kg.
Conversions:1 kg = 2.2 pounds (on Earth)
1 pound = 0.45 kg (on Earth)
1 pound ~ 4.5 N (on Earth)
Write up your results, including what building you went to and how many floors it has. You might have to do several trials, since other people using the elevator might disturb the acceleration (i.e. if the elevator is forced to stop at every floor). Be sure to show all your calculations for full credit. Include pictures (or videotape) of your non-moving weight, and your weight during the up and down accelerations. Also draw force diagrams for parts A-D.