What happens to the upward force exerted on a man if the elevator is moving downward at a constant speed?

When an elevator is moving downward at a constant speed, the forces acting on a man inside it can be analyzed using Newton's laws. In this scenario, the man experiences two primary forces: his weight, which acts downward due to gravity, and the upward force exerted by the elevator floor, which counteracts some of that weight.

Since the elevator is moving at a constant speed, this indicates that it is in a state of dynamic equilibrium. In such a case, the acceleration of the system is zero, meaning that the total force acting on the man is also zero. According to Newton's first law, when an object is not accelerating, the forces must balance.

Therefore, the upward force exerted on the man is exactly equal to his weight. This balance means he does not feel any net force acting on him, so he feels as if he is in a stationary position relative to the elevator, even as it moves downwards. Consequently, the correct understanding is that the upward force is equal to the man's weight.