if I weigh 177 lb on a stationary scale and stand on that same scale inside an elevator going up at an acceleration of 12 ft/s^2 what will the ending scale reading be?

12 + 32 = 43 ft/s^2

177 * (43/32) = 238 pounds

To determine the ending scale reading, we need to consider the effects of the acceleration of the elevator on your weight.

When the elevator is stationary, the scale measures your actual weight, which is equal to 177 lb in this case.

When the elevator is accelerating upward, an additional force, known as the "pseudo force," is experienced. This pseudo force is equal to the product of your mass and the acceleration of the elevator.

To calculate the pseudo force, we need to convert your weight (177 lb) to mass. We divide the weight by the acceleration due to gravity. The acceleration due to gravity is approximately 32 ft/s^2.

Mass = Weight / Acceleration due to gravity
Mass = 177 lb / 32 ft/s^2

Next, we calculate the pseudo force:

Pseudo Force = Mass * Acceleration
Pseudo Force = (177 lb / 32 ft/s^2) * (12 ft/s^2)

Now, we can determine the ending scale reading by considering the net force acting on you:

Net Force = Weight + Pseudo Force

Finally, we convert the net force back to weight using the same conversion factor we used earlier:

Ending Scale Reading = Net Force * Acceleration due to gravity

By following these steps, we can find the ending scale reading while taking into account the acceleration of the elevator.