Weightlessness in OrbitEasyQuestion 30727
Question
Astronauts feel weightless in orbit because:
- AGravity is zero in orbit
- BGravity at that height is negligible
- CThey and the spacecraft are in free fall together with the same accelerationCorrect
- DThe spacecraft shields them from gravity
Correct answer
They and the spacecraft are in free fall together with the same acceleration
Explanation
In orbit, both astronaut and spacecraft continuously fall toward Earth with the same centripetal acceleration = g at that altitude. There is no relative acceleration between them → zero apparent weight.