NEW ZEALAND PHYSICS TEACHERS' RESOURCE BANK

Newton Lifts

Bathroom Scale reads Newtons!

Close up of scale.

Abstract
Increases and decreases in scale reading as the lift accelerates.
Portable No
Principles Illustrated
Apparent weight in an accelerated reference frame
NCEA & Science Curriculum
SCI 1.1, PHYS 2.4
Teacher Guide
Would you like to contribute lesson suggestions? Contact us.
Instructions

A student stands on the scale in a lift. As the lift accelerates upward the reading increases. As the lift accelerates downward the reading decreases. As the lift moves at constant velocity -- up, down, or not at all -- the scale reads as it does outside the lift.

This demo is not portable unless you have access to a lift.

Credits

This teaching resource was developed with support from

 
Copyright

Copyright and fair use statement