Elevating

Elevating, Episode 1: What’s the Big Idea‽

December 22^nd, 2014—inhabitants of Grafton High have recently reported bizarre phenomena occurring at the local elevator. Several accounts describe unusual feelings of “weight shifts”, noting altered senses of weight while in transport. The reports have prompted unease in the community of scientifically-literate students who understand weight as being the gravitational force on any given object. A local group known only as the Super Six have attempted to explain the rumors, suggesting acceleration as a possible cause of these strange symptoms.

As a credible news source, we are obliged to tell you this image was retrieved here.

As the Super Six begins research, they realize that all their findings point to one culprit: their archvillain, AP Physics!

Elevating, Episode 2: Procedure

To investigate the correlation between perceived weight and the elevator’s acceleration, the Super Six return to their super-secret hideout to obtain the proper equipment to conduct their experiment: the Fantastic Force Plate and their truly secret weapon, the Vernier LabQuest. They rush to the elevator and, using their extraordinary Physics Powers, immediately configure the Fantastic Force Plate with the Vernier LabQuest to prepare for the real action.

For a second, silence. The enter the elevator cautiously, under the guise of civilians to avoid the compromise of their true identities. And, as a completely reputable news source, we have last-minute photographs capturing the Super Six in their attempts to fight crime and conquer AP Physics.

Two members of the Super Six—codenamed “Sam” and “Owen” apply their weight to the Fantastic Force Plate to measure the force they exert. Of course, being the amazing superhero team they are, the Super Six selected the members with the greatest deviation of masses to thwart AP Physics and minimize potential error. The elevator accelerates, but then—BAM!—AP Physics sneaks up on the entire Super Six! Weight-shifting ensues, as shown in our exclusive video clip below.

Clearly, the Super Six isn’t kidding around when it comes to justice, but AP Physics isn’t about to give up. Its anguish-inducing weight-shiftings torment them mercilessly! Upon (upwards) acceleration, they feel heavier, but as the elevator reaches its maximum velocity, the weight-shiftings stop, only to afflict them again upon deceleration, when they feel heavier. What will AP Physics do next‽ Will the Super Six survive this torture‽ Find out next time!

Elevating, Episode 3: Takeaways

Using their super secret weapon, the Vernier LabQuest, the Super Six escape the grasp of AP Physics just in the nick of time! They peruse their collected data, probing it for answers to the unexplained weight-shiftings.

Super Six Archive 98183447: Owen’s Data

Super Six Archive 76117103: Sam’s Data

Super Six Archive 57640556: Sam and Owen’s Data

“Aha!” someone exclaims. The Super Six finally notice that an increased force—caused by the upwards acceleration of the elevator—felt like an increase in weight, i.e. the purported “weight-shifting”. Likewise, a decreased force felt like a decrease in weight. Of course, they determine, these events occurred in a different order depending on the initial direction of the elevator. They realize AP Physics’ ploy all along—the sense of weight isn’t just affected by the gravitational force on an object, but the other forces as well! They return their results to the esteemed Dr. J. E., who succinctly details the specifics of the situation:

Courtesy of Dr. J. E.

The Super Six relate their conclusion back to the equation F = ma. The total force in the vertical direction is what is perceived as weight, regardless of the gravitational force. In fact, they realize, that the formula can be rewritten as F_G + F_E = m(a_G + a_E), where the superscript G denotes gravity and the superscript E denotes the elevator. When the elevator’s acceleration is downwards, the force is subtracted from the total force, making it seem like there is less weight, and more weight in the opposite case.

The Super Six finalize their conclusion, but then—SCREAMING! Horrible, ear-piercing cries for help. The Super Six hear a group of people shrieking from injustice, presumably AP Physics out on another weight-shifting spree. They pinpoint the sounds to the nearest amusement park, only imagining what wrongdoing their archvillain could cause on a ride with an intense downwards acceleration. “Weightlessness” is the word that comes to their minds as they sprint into the distance.

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It’s nighttime. The Super Six have relinquished the rest of their energy, back at their super-secret hideout. Chinese food occupies the entire table, and all they do is eat. Oh wait—takeaways? Eh, oh well. Close enough.