Answer
$a) 25.5 lbf$; $b) 150 lbf$
Work Step by Step
An astronaut took his scales with him to space. It is to be determined how much he will weigh on the spring and beam scales in space.
(a) A spring scale measures weight, which is the local gravitational force applied on a body:
$W = mg = (150 lbm)(5.48 ft/s^2)(\dfrac{1 lbf}{32.2 lbm\times ft/s^2}) = 25.5 lbf$
(b) A beam scale compares masses and thus is not affected by the variations in gravitational acceleration. The beam scale will read what it reads on earth,
$W = 150 lbf$
