An object in a satellite orbiting around the earth is weightless because:
Correct answer: C. Its motion is free fall
- A. g = 0
- B. No force acts on it
- C. Its motion is free fall
- D. It is far away from the earth
Explanation
The correct answer is that an object in a satellite orbiting around the Earth is weightless because its motion is in free fall. In orbit, both the satellite and the objects inside it are in a constant state of free fall towards the Earth, but because they are moving forward fast enough, they keep missing it. This continuous free-fall condition results in the experience of weightlessness. While the force of gravity does act on the objects, the lack of a normal contact force, which we associate with weight, is what makes them feel weightless. This is different from the idea that gravity is zero or that no force acts on the object.
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About Weightlessness and Artificial Gravity
Weightlessness means the apparent weight or supporting force on an object is zero, as in free fall or an orbiting spacecraft, not that gravity has disappeared. Artificial gravity is produced by centripetal acceleration, usually through rotation. Questions compare gravitational force, normal reaction, orbital motion and the sensation of weight.
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