---
title: "An elevator cab containing a passenger of mass \\(m\\) standing on a scale moves downward while slowing down with a constant acceleration of magnitude \\(a\\). Which of the following rows correctly compares the scale reading \\(F_{\\text{scale}}\\) to the passenger’s true weight \\(mg\\), the magnitude of the contact force exerted by the passenger on the scale \\(F_{\\text{person on scale}}\\) to \\(F_{\\text{scale}}\\), and the magnitude of the gravitational force exerted by the passenger on Earth \\(F_{\\text{person on Earth}}\\) to \\(mg\\)?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/124140/"
date_modified: "2026-09-28T13:30:41+00:00"
---

# An elevator cab containing a passenger of mass \(m\) standing on a scale moves downward while slowing down with a constant acceleration of magnitude \(a\). Which of the following rows correctly compares the scale reading \(F_{\text{scale}}\) to the passenger’s true weight \(mg\), the magnitude of the contact force exerted by the passenger on the scale \(F_{\text{person on scale}}\) to \(F_{\text{scale}}\), and the magnitude of the gravitational force exerted by the passenger on Earth \(F_{\text{person on Earth}}\) to \(mg\)?

An elevator cab containing a passenger of mass \(m\) standing on a scale moves downward while slowing down with a constant acceleration of magnitude \(a\). Which of the following rows correctly compares the scale reading \(F_{\text{scale}}\) to the passenger's true weight \(mg\), the magnitude of the contact force exerted by the passenger on the scale \(F_{\text{person on scale}}\) to \(F_{\text{scale}}\), and the magnitude of the gravitational force exerted by the passenger on Earth \(F_{\text{person on Earth}}\) to \(mg\)?

- **A.** | \(F_{\text{scale}} > mg\) | \(F_{\text{person on scale}} > F_{\text{scale}}\) | \(F_{\text{person on Earth}} = mg\) |
- **B.** | \(F_{\text{scale}} > mg\) | \(F_{\text{person on scale}} = F_{\text{scale}}\) | \(F_{\text{person on Earth}} = mg\) |
- **C.** | \(F_{\text{scale}} = mg\) | \(F_{\text{person on scale}} = F_{\text{scale}}\) | \(F_{\text{person on Earth}} = mg\) |
- **D.** | \(F_{\text{scale}} > mg\) | \(F_{\text{person on scale}} = F_{\text{scale}}\) | \(F_{\text{person on Earth}} > mg\) |

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/124140/*