What is apparent weight?

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Kieran Orozco · Accepted Answer

The downward force exerted by gravity on an object is measured by its apparent weight. whereas weight is a measure of the force exerted by gravity.
As we know downward forces can be manipulated easily using inertial and non- inertial reference frame(in case of elevator/thriller rides) or using buoyancy force(in case of fluid) or using air drag as the object falls on the surface of the earth.
in each of the cases above, To calculate apparent weight, it is always advisable to draw free body diagram.
Let's take up a case of weighing machine in an elevator which can largely illustrate the definition.

As we know the weighing machine measures normal acting onto it. As we see lift accelerate in upward direction, resulting pseudo force in downward direction.
Therefore from the free body diagram,

(Fnet)y=0;withrespecttothebody.
N−(mg+ma)=0
N=mg+ma
Thisisknownasapparentweightofthebody
This is also the reason why we feel heaviness in our weight as we move in a lift/thriller rides in upward direction accelerated.
NOTE: Apparent weight can be less or more than the actual weight of the body depending on the situation given.

What is apparent weight?

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