A person is standing on a spring bathroom scale on the floor of an elevator which is moving up and slowing down at the rate of 2.73 m/s^2.

The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s^2.
If the person’s mass is 75.2 kg, what does the scale read? Answer in units of n

To find out what the bathroom scale reads, we need to consider the forces acting on the person.

First, we have the gravitational force pulling the person downward, given by:

Weight = mass * acceleration due to gravity
Weight = 75.2 kg * 9.8 m/s^2
Weight = 737.96 N

This is the force with which the person is being pushed downward onto the scale.

Additionally, we have the normal force exerted by the scale acting in the opposite direction of the gravitational force. When the elevator is at rest or moving at a constant velocity, the normal force is equal to the weight. However, when there is acceleration or deceleration, the normal force changes to balance out the net force on the person.

In this case, the elevator is moving upward and slowing down, resulting in an upward net force on the person. The net force is given by Newton's second law:

Net force = mass * acceleration
Net force = 75.2 kg * (-2.73 m/s^2)
Net force = -205.2968 N

Since the net force is upward, the normal force exerted by the scale will be less than the weight.

To find the scale reading, we need to subtract the net force from the weight:

Scale reading = Weight - Net force
Scale reading = 737.96 N - (-205.2968 N)
Scale reading = 737.96 N + 205.2968 N
Scale reading = 943.2568 N

Therefore, the bathroom scale would read 943.2568 N.