The pilot weighting 686N dived down with an acceleration of 9.8m sec-2 its apparent weight is
Correct answer: D. Zero
- A. 343N
- B. 1372 N
- C. 686 N
- D. Zero
Explanation
The net force is equal to the sum of the gravitational force and the force due to acceleration:Net force = Gravitational force + Force due to accelerationNet force = 686N + (mass × acceleration)Since the gravitational force is equal to the weight, we have:Net force = Weight + (mass × acceleration)Net force = 686N + (mass × 9.8 m/s²)Now, if the pilot is in free fall with no other external forces acting on them, we can consider the net force to be zero because the gravitational force and the force due to acceleration cancel each other out. Therefore, the apparent weight of the pilot in this scenario is zero.
This question appeared on the ETEA MDCAT 2010 paper, which you can sit online with every answer explained.
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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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