Conceptual Physics Lab 04e: Elevator Investigation

How do the magnitudes and directions of the forces acting on our bodies during an elevator ride
change?

Equipment

Force sensor LabQuest 1-kg mass ring stand apparatus

Pre-lab
A 1 kg mass is suspended by a force sensor as shown below. The mass then travels downward
1 floor and then back up to the third floor. We will use a force sensor to measure the apparent
weight of the mass. The weight reading by the force sensor will actually be the force provided
by the sensor that keeps the weight suspended. Thus the apparent weight in this case is the
upward pull of the force sensor. This is similar to a scale, which does not measure your weight,
i.e. the force of gravity, but the support force that the scale must provide, which is the same
magnitude as but opposite in direction to your weight. Predict the following:

Circle One
Apparent weight of 1 kg mass while elevator is stationary: >10N =10N <10N
Apparent weight of 1 kg mass while elevator begins to travel downward: >10N =10N <10N
Apparent weight of 1 kg mass while elevator begins to travel upward: >10N =10N <10N

Predict what the graph of Force vs. Time would look like for the 1 kg mass traveling from the
third floor to the second floor.

20.0

15.0

10.0

5.0

0.0
Force (N)

-5.0

-10.0

-15.0

-20.0
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 16.0 18.0 20.0
time (s)

Explain your graph:

Data
Test your hypothesis. Use the LoggerPro file Elevator Investigation.cmbl to collect force
data while traveling from the third floor to the second floor on the elevator (or vice versa,
but be sure to note your exact situation!). Be sure to adhere to the following guidelines:

•switch the force sensor to read ±50 N

•ensure that the force sensor is attached to the 1-kg mass by the hook end of the sensor
•zero all sensors before recording measurements
•do not touch the sensor or ring stand during data measurement

1.Include a copy of your graph of Force vs. Time with your report.

Analysis and Conclusions

2.Do the data support your hypothesis or refute it? Explain.

3. Draw and name the forces acting on a person when he/she is standing in an elevator:

4. In order to accelerate upward the force of the elevator pushing up on the person has to be
GREATER THAN LESS THAN EQUAL TO the force of
gravity (weight) pulling down on the person. Explain your choice.

5. In order to accelerate downward the force of the elevator pushing up on the person has to be
GREATER THAN LESS THAN EQUAL TO the force of
gravity (weight) pulling down on the person. Explain your choice.

6. In order to move up or down at a constant speed the force of the elevator pushing up on the person
has to be GREATER THAN LESS THAN EQUAL TO the force of gravity
pulling down on the person (weight). Explain your choice.
7. When the scale reads less than the person's weight, the elevator is accelerating
UPWARD DOWNWARD IT IS NOT ACCELERATING.
Explain your choice.

8. When the scale reads more than the person's weight, the elevator is accelerating
UPWARD DOWNWARD IT IS NOT ACCELERATING.
Explain your choice.

9. When the scale reads the person's weight, the elevator is accelerating
UPWARD DOWNWARD IT IS NOT ACCELERATING.
Explain your choice.

10. During what part of an elevator roundtrip does the elevator (and the person in it) have
a) downward velocity and upward acceleration?

b) upward velocity and upward acceleration?

c) upward velocity and downward acceleration?

d) downward velocity and downward acceleration?

11. Critical Thinking: Mr.Cook takes a ride on the elevator while standing on a bathroom scale and
notes the following measurements:

Minimum scale reading (N) 720

Maximum scale reading (N) 800

Scale reading at rest or at constant velocity (N) 760

a)For the case when the elevator is accelerating upward, draw the force vectors on Mr. Cook and
write the value of the force in Newtons next to each vector.

i)What is the net force in this case?

ii) What is the acceleration? (Hint: You need to know Mr. Cook’s mass. Can you figure it out?)

b)For the case when the elevator is accelerating downward, draw the force vectors on the person
and write the value of the force in Newtons next to each vector.

i) What is the net force in this case?

ii) What is the acceleration?

Note: this action-reaction pair (person on scale – scale on person) is NOT THE SAME as the non-
action-reaction pair of scale on person – Earth (gravity) on person. (Not certain what an action-
reaction pair is? Consult your text pp. 74-81)