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Would you weigh less in an elevator? - Carol Hedden

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TEDEd Animation

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What happens when you jump in a moving elevator? Do you weigh more when you're going up and less when you're going down? Carol Hedden explores the relationship between gravity, weight, and relative motion, using a moving elevator to explain the fascinating physics.

Newton's second law (net force = mass x acceleration) tells us that if the acceleration is zero, the net force must be zero. Therefore, which of the following is most true?

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Animator Andy London
  • Educator Carol Hedden
  • Narrator Carol Hedden

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