Question

A person is standing in an elevator. In which situation will he find his weight less than his actual weight?

• A. When the elevator moves with an upward constant acceleration
• B. When the elevator moves with a downward constant acceleration
• C. When the elevator moves upward with uniform velocity
• D. When the elevator moves downward with uniform velocity

Answer 1

The correct option is B

When the elevator moves with a downward constant acceleration

Person will feel his weight less when the lift goes down with some acceleration because the pseudo force acting on him is in the upward direction thus reducing the effective gravitational force in the frame of the lift.