Elevator Physics
Interactive simulation — adjust parameters and watch the visualization update in real time.
How it works
Standing on a scale in an elevator, you measure the normal force N. In the ground (inertial) frame, N − mg = ma when the elevator accelerates upward with acceleration a, so N = m(g + a). If the cable snaps and the cabin falls freely, a = −g and N = 0 — you feel weightless.
Key equations
N − mg = ma ⇒ N = m(g + a)
Free fall: a = −g → N = 0