If while the mass was hanging from a spring scale you pulled up sharply on the scale what do you think would happen to the reading on the scale?
it would increase, just as it would if you pulled down on the weight.
If you pull up sharply on the scale while the mass is hanging from it, the reading on the scale would momentarily increase. This occurs due to the sudden application of an additional force on the scale, causing the scale to register a momentary increase in the measured weight.
However, it is essential to note that the reading on the scale may quickly return to the original value or even dip below it. This is because the reading depends on the net force acting on the mass. When you pull up on the scale, you are momentarily reducing the force of gravity acting on the mass, which can result in a higher reading than the actual weight of the mass. But as soon as you release the upward force, the reading will return to the true weight of the mass.
To observe the reading on the scale accurately, it is best to apply a constant and steady force, keeping the mass at rest.