Arturo O. answered • 12/09/19
Tutor
5.0
(66)
Experienced Physics Teacher for Physics Tutoring
If the scale-block system is hanging from your hand, then accelerating downward will reduce the apparent weight of the block.
Arturo O.
It reduces the measured (i.e. apparent) weight. The spring-scale actually measures tension on the spring, and then converts that to a measurement of weight. So to reduce the measurement of weight, you need to reduce the tension on the spring. The spring is stretched by the hanging block. Accelerating the spring downward reduces its stretching, and hence its tension, which results in a lower measured weight. It is similar in concept to feeling light when riding an elevator. If the elevator is accelerating downward, you feel lighter; if it is accelerating upward, you feel heavier. If it is moving at the same speed upward or downward, your weight feels the same. So to feel lighter, you must accelerate downward.
Report
12/10/19
Bob M.
Why would accelerating it downward even reduce the weight?12/10/19