An object in a satellite orbiting around the Earth is weightless because:
Correct answer: C. No force acts on it
- A. g=0
- B. It is falling freely
- C. No force acts on it
- D. It is far away from the earth
Explanation
No force acts on it: This option is incorrect. There is a force acting on the object due to gravity, but it is balanced by the centripetal force of the satellite's orbital motion.
This question appeared on the ETEA MDCAT 2009 paper, which you can sit online with every answer explained.
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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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