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Riding An Elevator - Physics 11 Activity

The activity involves measuring the acceleration of an elevator as it ascends and descends by using a bathroom scale to record weight changes. The procedure includes calculating the maximum and minimum weights during the elevator's movement to determine the acceleration using Newton's second law. Potential sources of error include scale uncertainty and inconsistent readings due to elevator motion.

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15 views2 pages

Riding An Elevator - Physics 11 Activity

The activity involves measuring the acceleration of an elevator as it ascends and descends by using a bathroom scale to record weight changes. The procedure includes calculating the maximum and minimum weights during the elevator's movement to determine the acceleration using Newton's second law. Potential sources of error include scale uncertainty and inconsistent readings due to elevator motion.

Uploaded by

emmarahnama9
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physics 11 Activity: Riding an Elevator

Objective:
Measure the acceleration of actual elevator as it rises and as it descends

Procedure:
1. Find a building with an elevator that has around 3-4 floors (more floors is better though)
2. Before getting into the elevator, first measure your standing still weight on the bathroom
scale and record the weight measured for later use.
3. Get on the elevator from the lowest floor and place the bathroom scale in the middle of
the elevator (MAKE SURE SCALE IS AT 0 BEFORE GETTING ON IT). Stand on the
scale and press the button that takes the elevator to the highest floor.
4. As the elevator is going upward, watch the scale closely and record the maximum weight
seen on the scale (this should be the heavier weight).
5. Once you reach the top floor, this time, press the button that takes the elevator to the
lowest floor while standing on the scale.
6. As the elevator is going downwards now, watch the scale closely and record the
minimum weight seen on the scale (this should be the lighter weight).
7. Repeat steps 3-6 at least 2 more times to ensure that the data is consistent.
8. Use the recorded maximum, minimum and standing still weight to calculate the
acceleration of the elevator.

Analysis:
Finding upward acceleration:
2
Standing still weight (at rest): 𝐹𝑔 = 𝑚 ⋅ 𝑔 → 𝐹𝑔 = 54. 0 𝑘𝑔 ⋅ 9. 81 𝑚/𝑠 = 529. 74𝑁

Elevator goes upwards:


max weight: 64.5 kg
2
𝐹𝑔 = 𝑚 ⋅ 𝑔 → 𝐹𝑔 = 64. 5 𝑘𝑔 ⋅ 9. 81 𝑚/𝑠 = 632. 745𝑁

𝐹𝑁 = 𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡(𝑖𝑛 𝑁𝑒𝑤𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑠) − 𝐹𝑔 → 𝐹𝑁 = 632. 745𝑁 − 529. 74𝑁 = 103. 005𝑁

Find acceleration: 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 → 103. 005 = 54. 0𝑎 (divide 54.0 on both sides)


2
𝑎 = 1. 91 𝑚/𝑠
Finding downward acceleration:
Use the same standing still weight as before: 529. 74𝑁

Elevator goes downwards:


min weight: 42.8 kg

2
𝐹𝑔 = 𝑚 ⋅ 𝑔 → 𝐹𝑔 = 42. 8 𝑘𝑔 ⋅ 9. 81 𝑚/𝑠 = 419. 868𝑁

𝐹𝑁 = 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑊𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡(𝑖𝑛 𝑁𝑒𝑤𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑠) − 𝐹𝑔 → 𝐹𝑁 = 419. 868𝑁 − 529. 74𝑁 =− 109. 872𝑁

Find acceleration: 𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 → − 109. 872 = 54. 0𝑎 (divide 54.0 on both sides)


2
𝑎= − 2. 03 𝑚/𝑠 (negative because the elevator is going downwards)

Sources of Error:
● Scale uncertainty (systematic error)
● Reading of scale since values kept changing with the movement of the elevator (random
error)
● Uneven weight on the scale (random error)

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