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Asked in AIPMT 2003 · Lifts, spring balances and apparent weight
Given: m=80 kg, a=5 m/s² upwards, g=10 m/s².
Idea: the scale reads the normal force it pushes up with, not the weight.
Newton's second law for the man: N-mg=ma.
N=m(g+a).
N=80×(10+5).
N=80×15=1200 N.
The reading is larger than the 800 N he weighs at rest, as it must be while the lift speeds upwards.
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