You measure your weight by stepping on a spring scale inside an elevator. If elevator

accelerates either upward or downward, the spring scale gives a reading different from
your weight. a) Calculate how much a 70 kg person weigh a) if the elevator accelerates
upward with a rate of +1.00 m/s2, b) if the elevator accelerates downward with a rate of
-1.00 m/s2. a) 77 kg b) 63 kg
5)

To calculate how much a 70 kg person weighs in different acceleration scenarios, we need to consider the concept of apparent weight. Apparent weight is the reading displayed on the scale and is different from the person's actual weight due to the presence of acceleration.

The formula to calculate apparent weight is:

Apparent weight = Actual weight + (mass × acceleration)

a) If the elevator is accelerating upward with a rate of +1.00 m/s^2:
Applying the formula, we get:
Apparent weight = 70 kg + (70 kg × 1.00 m/s^2)
= 70 kg + 70 kg = 140 kg

Therefore, the person would weigh 140 kg according to the spring scale reading.

b) If the elevator is accelerating downward with a rate of -1.00 m/s^2:
Applying the formula, we get:
Apparent weight = 70 kg + (70 kg × (-1.00) m/s^2)
= 70 kg - 70 kg = 0 kg

Therefore, the person would weigh 0 kg according to the spring scale reading.

Note that in the scenario where the elevator is accelerating downward with a rate of -1.00 m/s^2, the spring scale would show 0 kg, indicating that the person experiences weightlessness (since the scale is pushing upward with a force equal to the person's weight to cancel out the downward acceleration).