Question

Why do the astronauts in the international space station experience weightlessness?

(a) The acceleration due to gravity at that height is zero

(b) They are falling towards the earth

(c) They have specially designed spacesuits for this purpose

(d) The gravity of the moon and earth cancel out at that altitude

This question was addressed to me in homework.

Query is from Gravitation topic in chapter Gravitation of Physics – Class 11

Answer 1

Correct choice is (b) They are falling towards the earth

To explain: The parabolic trajectory of the free fall of the international space station is at such high velocity that it essentially orbits the planet. The weightlessness experienced by the astronauts in the ISS is the consequence of this freefall.