When a man standing inside a lift, there are two forces acting on him : his weight W and the normal force R acting on him by the lift floor. When the lift rests, W(mg)-R=ma where a=0. W=R When it accelerates downward, W-R=ma where a>0(take downward direction as positive) W=R+ma W>R R is smaller than W so he seems to become lighter at that moment. When it decelerates downward, W-R=ma where a<0(take downward direction as positive) W=R+ma W<R At this moment, he seems to become heavier. NOTE: If you use a weighing scale in the lift. The reading is smaller when the lift accelerates and is larger when the lift decelerates. The readings change is dependence on the R. |