Question

The apparent weight of a body is
This question has multiple correct options
A. may be positive.
B. may be negative.
C. may be zero.
D. is always positive.

Answer 1

Hint: To solve this question, we must remember that an object's apparent weight will differ from an object's weight whenever the force of gravity acting on the object is not balanced by an equal, but opposite, normal force.

Complete step-by-step solution -
Apparent weight is a property of objects that corresponds to how heavy an object is. The apparent weight of an object will differ from the weight of an object whenever the force of gravity acting on the object is not balanced by an equal but opposite normal force.
We know the apparent weight is a property of objects relating to the heaviness of an object.
Imagine a mass m man standing on a weighing machine mounted in a lift. The Man's real weight is mg. It acts downward vertically through the man's center of gravity G, it acts on the weighing machine which offers resistance R. The weighing machine reads the R reaction, and which is the man's power. So, R is the man's apparent weight.

Now we are going to be making cases.

Case 1: If the lift is going up with acceleration a.
The net force on the man is upward, R - mg = ma
$$\therefore$$ Apparent weight, R = m(g + a)
So the man's apparent weight inside it increases when the lift accelerates upwards. That means it can be good to weigh apparently.

Case 2: If the lift is going down with acceleration a.
The net downward power on the man is, mg – R = ma
$$\therefore$$ Apparent weight, R = m( g – a ).
And as the lift accelerates downwards, the man's apparent weight within it diminishes if a value increases and is more than g then the man's apparent weight inside the lift is negative.

Case 3: When lift falls freely.
When the lift free falls below due to gravity. Then a =g.
On the man the net downward force is,
$$\therefore$$ R = m( g - g ) =.0
And the man's apparent weight gets zero.

And now we can see in all three situations that a body 's apparent weight can be positive, can be negative, and can be null.
So choices (A), (B ) and ( C) are the correct responses.

Note: Whenever we ask questions of this type, we need to know the concept of force and apparent weight first. Then we are going to consider a situation and we're going to make some cases to prove that statement. Before that, we can define the importance of the apparent weight by using those examples. Through that, we can get the response we need.