A person normally weighing 50 kg stands on a massless platform that oscillates up and down harmonically at a frequency of 2.0 s-1 and an amplitude of 5.0 cm. A weighing machine on the platform gives the persons weight against time.

1. Will there be any change in the weight of the body, during the oscillation?

2. If the answer to part (1) is yes, what will be the maximum and minimum reading in the machine and at which position?

Hint: There will be a pseudo force on the person due to oscillations of the platform.

Step 1: Find if the weight of the person will be variable.

In this case, the acceleration is variable. In accelerated motion, the weight of the body depends on the magnitude and direction of acceleration for upward or downward motion.

                        

Step 2: Find the minimum weight of the person.

Angular frequency, ω=2πn=2×3.14×2=12.56 rad/sec
Maximum acceleration, amax=2=5100×12.562=7.89 m/s2

The weight of the person will be minimum when the force on the person is minimum at the upper extreme position.

Minimum weight=W-mamax=50×9.8-7.89=95.5 N

Step 3: Find the minimum weight of the person.

The weight of the person will be maximum when the force on the person is maximum at the lower extreme position.

Minimum weight=W+mamax=50×9.8+7.89=884.5 N