The Thinking Experiment

Elevator Ride: Apparent Weight and Normal Force

Ride with Zorro and compare acceleration, apparent weight, and free-body diagrams as the elevator starts, stops, and cruises between floors.

Status: At rest on floor 1.

Floor
1

Acceleration

none

Floor: 1

Free Body Diagram

a = 0.00 m/s2 (none)
FN = Fg
Sensation: normal
1.00x

Physics Guide for Self-Study

Apparent weight comes from the normal force. If FN = Fg, sensation is normal.

Motion direction and acceleration direction are not always the same.

Core Model

  • Fnet = FN - Fg = ma (upward positive).
  • Fg = mg is constant for a fixed mass.
  • FN > Fg -> heavier sensation.
  • FN = Fg -> normal sensation.
  • FN < Fg -> lighter sensation.

Try These Prompts

  1. Run 1 -> 20 and record floor ranges for speeding up, cruising, and slowing down.
  2. Find a moment when Zorro is moving up but feeling lighter (or moving down but feeling heavier).
  3. Use FN vs Fg and acceleration direction to justify your claim in one sentence.

Inspired by The Physics Classroom Elevator Ride Interactive.