When standing at rest on a bathroom scale, how does your weight relate to the support force from the scale?

When standing at rest on a bathroom scale, your weight is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the support force provided by the scale. This relationship is explained by Newton's Third Law of Motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

In this scenario, your weight acts downward due to gravity, exerting a force on the scale. The scale responds by exerting a support force upward that matches the gravitational force acting on you. Because you are at rest and not accelerating, these two forces are balanced.

The static equilibrium condition—where the net force acting on you is zero—ensures that the upward support force from the scale is equal to your weight. Thus, the support force prevents you from accelerating downward, effectively counteracting your weight. This fundamental principle of forces explains why the correct answer indicates that your weight and the support force are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.