Moderate

The astronauts in a satellite experience a state of weightlessness because both the astronaut and the satellite fall toward the earth with an acceleration of:

Correct answer: A. g

  • A. g
  • B. 2g
  • C. 3g
  • D. -g

Explanation

The sensation of weightlessness experienced by astronauts in a satellite is due to the fact that both the satellite and the astronauts are in free fall toward the Earth. This free fall is caused by the gravitational force between the Earth and the satellite. The acceleration experienced by both the satellite and the astronauts is the acceleration due to gravity, denoted by 'g.' Thus, A is the correct option.

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About Gravitation

Newton’s law of universal gravitation relates the force between masses to their masses and separation, while gravitational field strength explains weight and orbital motion. The topic covers satellite velocity and period, escape ideas, weightlessness in free fall, and artificial gravity, which differs from ordinary gravitational attraction.

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