Say I’m standing on a scale in the middle of the room and I weigh 150 lbs. Why is it that when I crouch down and apply force to ready a jump, the scale jumps to 200+ lbs even though it’s still my body weight?
Does this kinetic energy make me heavier for a moment? Why does the scale read so many extra lbs?
In: Physics
If you push your hand on the scale you can make it read a bunch of different numbers based on how hard you push. This doesn’t mean you’re getting heavier or lighter when your hand pushes more or less, it means the scale measures something different from weight.
The scale estimates your weight based on how much force is applied and the acceleration due to gravity at sea level. If you go to the top of a tall mountain you’ll measure less heavy than at sea level on the same scale.
As for why the scale momentarily measures higher, well the kinetic energy being dissipated into the scale is measured as increased force. You’re not heavier for a split second when you crouch down, you just exert more force than when motionless.
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