A person is standing in an elevator. In which situation he finds his weight less?

Question

A person is standing in an elevator. In which situation he finds his weight less? (A) When the elevator moves upward with constant acceleration (B) When the elevator moves downward with constant acceleration (C) When the elevator moves upward with uniform velocity (D) When the elevator moves downward with uniform velocity

Tardigrade Admin · Accepted Answer

Acceleration due to gravity always acts in the downward direction.
When elevator is moving downward with constant acceleration i.e., when resultant acceleration is downward then

W = m (g - a)

is the resultant weight, which is less than the original weight

m g

. Therefore, person finds his weightless.

Q. A person is standing in an elevator. In which situation he finds his weight less?

When the elevator moves upward with constant acceleration

When the elevator moves downward with constant acceleration

When the elevator moves upward with uniform velocity

When the elevator moves downward with uniform velocity

Acceleration due to gravity always acts in the downward direction. When elevator is moving downward with constant acceleration i.e., when resultant acceleration is downward then W=m(g−a) is the resultant weight, which is less than the original weight mg. Therefore, person finds his weightless.