Apparent weight Transitional Reasoning Download PDF

Questions

1. 1.

   A passenger stands on a calibrated scale inside a vertical test elevator. When the elevator accelerates vertically upward with a constant acceleration $a$, the scale displays an apparent weight that is 20% greater than the passenger's true weight. If the elevator then transitions to a state where its vertical acceleration is directed downward with a magnitude of $2a$, what is the passenger's apparent weight expressed as a percentage of their true weight?

   • A) 40%
   • B) 60%
   • C) 70%
   • D) 80%
2. 2.

   A 60.0 kg astronaut stands on a calibrated force platform inside a lunar lander descending vertically toward the surface of the Moon. To ensure a soft touchdown, the lander's braking thrusters fire to produce a constant upward acceleration of $1.38\text{ m/s}^2$. Taking the acceleration due to gravity on the Moon as $g_{\text{moon}} = 1.62\text{ m/s}^2$, what is the apparent weight of the astronaut during this deceleration phase?

   • A) 14.4 N
   • B) 97.2 N
   • C) 180 N
   • D) 588 N
3. 3.

   During an automated flight test, a vertical delivery drone ascends while carrying a 5.0 kg package resting on a calibrated floor force plate. Over a 2.0 s interval, the drone's upward velocity decreases uniformly from 14.0 m/s to 6.0 m/s. Taking $g = 9.8\text{ m/s}^2$, what is the apparent weight of the package recorded by the force plate during this interval?

   • A) 69 N
   • B) 29 N
   • C) 49 N
   • D) 20 N
4. 4.

   An automated vertical test chamber evaluates the mechanical stress on an instrument package resting on a digital force plate. Telemetry data reveals that when the chamber accelerates vertically upward with a constant acceleration of magnitude $a$, the plate records an apparent weight of 840 N, whereas when it accelerates vertically downward with the same acceleration magnitude $a$, the plate records an apparent weight of 560 N. Based on these measurements, what is the true gravitational weight of the package and the magnitude of the chamber's acceleration expressed in terms of $g$?

   • A) True weight is 650 N, and $a = 0.15g$
   • B) True weight is 700 N, and $a = 0.20g$
   • C) True weight is 700 N, and $a = 0.40g$
   • D) True weight is 1400 N, and $a = 0.20g$
5. 5.

   A 50 kg test cargo rests on a calibrated digital force sensor on the floor of an elevator. While the elevator travels downward, the sensor records a steady normal force of 620 N supporting the cargo. Taking $g = 9.8\text{ m/s}^2$, which statement correctly identifies the apparent weight of the cargo and the motion of the elevator?

   • A) The apparent weight is 490 N, indicating that the elevator moves downward at a constant velocity.
   • B) The apparent weight is 130 N, indicating that the elevator speeds up downward at $2.6\text{ m/s}^2$.
   • C) The apparent weight is 620 N, indicating that the elevator speeds up downward at $2.6\text{ m/s}^2$.
   • D) The apparent weight is 620 N, indicating that the elevator slows down with an upward acceleration of $2.6\text{ m/s}^2$.