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Application of Newton's law of motion in an elevator - problems and solutions

1. A 50-kg person in an elevator. Acceleration due to gravity = 10 m/s 2. Determine normal force exerted
on object by the elevator, if :
(a) elevator is at rest
(b) elevator is moving downward at constant velocity
(c) elevator accelerated upward at a constant 5 m/s2
(d) elevator accelerated downward at a constant 5 m/s2
(e) elevator in a free fall
Solution
Known :
Person's mass (m) = 50 kg
Acceleration due to gravity (g) = 10 m/s2
weight (w) = m g = (50)(10) = 500 Newton
Wanted : Normal force (N)
Solution :
(a) elevator is at rest
Elevator is at rest so there is no acceleration (a = 0)
We choose the upward direction as the positive direction and the downward direction as the negative
direction.
ΣF = m a
N-w=0
N=w
N = 500 Newton

(b) elevator is moving downward at constant velocity

Constant velocity so there is no acceleration (a = 0)
We choose the upward direction as the positive direction and the downward direction as the negative
direction.
ΣF = m a
N-w=0
N=w
N = 500 Newton

(c) elevator accelerated upward at a constant 5 m/s2

The direction of acceleration is upward, so we choose the positive direction as up.
N–w=ma
N=w+ma
N = 500 + (50)(5)
N = 500 + 250
N = 750 Newton
The person feels the floor pushing up harder than when the elevator is stationary or moving with
constant velocity.

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