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Free Weightlessness and Artificial Gravity MCQs with Answers

15 Weightlessness and Artificial Gravity MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

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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15 questions

1. A man of weight \( w \) is standing on an elevator which is ascending with an acceleration \( a \). The apparent weight of the man is

  • A. \( mg \)
  • B. \( ma - mg \)
  • C. \( mg + ma \)
  • D. \( mg - ma \)

Explanation: The apparent weight of a person in an elevator is the sum of the gravitational force and the force due to the elevator's acceleration

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Correct answer: \( mg + ma \)

2. A monkey sits on the pan of a spring scale. The reading of the spring scale will be maximum when the elevator is kept in an elevator

  • A. is stationary
  • B. accelerate downward
  • C. Cable brakes and it falls freely towards the earth
  • D. accelerates upward

Explanation: The reading of the spring scale will be maximum when the elevator accelerates downwards.

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Correct answer: accelerate downward

3. If the weight of a man is 100N and he is sitting in an elevator. Which is moving down with an acceleration of 9.8 m/s², then the apparent weight of the mass will be

  • A. 100 N
  • B. 1960 N
  • C. 200 N
  • D. Zero

Explanation: The apparent weight of an object in an elevator is given by the formula W′=W−ma, where ′W′ is the apparent weight, W is the actual weight…

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Correct answer: Zero

4. A body of mass m is attached to a spring balance which is attached to the ceiling of an elevator. If the elevator moves up with a certain acceleration, the apparent weight of the body will be

  • A. m(g+a)
  • B. g(m+ma/g )
  • C. a(m+mg/a )
  • D. All of these

Explanation: The apparent weight of the body in an elevator depends on the acceleration of the elevator and the gravitational acceleration.Upward…

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Correct answer: All of these

5. Once the space shuttle is in orbit at a radius R from earth's center, what force does the seat exert on the astronaut?

  • A. Mg
  • B. Zero newton
  • C. M/g
  • D. Ng/R2

Explanation: In an orbiting space shuttle, the astronaut is in free fall along with the shuttle, experiencing a gravitational force that provides the…

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Correct answer: Mg

6. In an artificial satellite, an object appears to be weightless when its rotational acceleration 'α' isequal to

  • A. g / 4.
  • B. g / 2.
  • C. g.
  • D. 2 g.

Explanation: In an artificial satellite, an object appears weightless when it is in a state of continuous free fall towards Earth.

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Correct answer: g.

7. When the spaceship rotates with _ frequency, the artificial gravity like earth is produced to inhabitants of the ship

  • A. 2π √ R / g
  • B. 2π √ ℓ / g
  • C. 1 / 2π √ R / g
  • D. f ≥ √(g / r)

Explanation: Explanation:When a spaceship raotates, the centripetal force creates a sensation of artificial gravity on the spaceship's interior.

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Correct answer: f ≥ √(g / r)

8. When a lift is accelerated upward, the apparent weight of an object in it will be:

  • A. Equal to its real weight
  • B. Less than its real weight
  • C. Zero
  • D. Greater than its real weight

Explanation: The apparent weight of an object is the force exerted by the object on the surface it is resting on.

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Correct answer: Greater than its real weight

9. A 100kg man is standing in an elevator, which accidentally falls freely. What will be the weight of the person in the freely falling elevator (take g=10 m/s^2)

  • A. 1000 N
  • B. 10 N
  • C. 500 N
  • D. Zero

Explanation: Being free fall, the man will be in a state of weightlessness As it is a numerical, it can have only one possible answer.

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Correct answer: Zero

10. Once the space shuttle is in orbit at a radius R from earths's centre what force does the seat exert on the astronout?

  • A. mg
  • B. Zero newton
  • C. m/g
  • D. mg/R2

Explanation: Zero. The force of gravity is counterbalanced by the force of angular acceleration.That's how it stays in orbit.Have you ever seen any…

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Correct answer: Zero newton

11. The weight of a pilot diving down with an acceleration of 9.8ms -2 will become:

  • A. Double
  • B. Half
  • C. Zero
  • D. Negative

Explanation: When an object is in free fall, such as a pilot diving down with an acceleration equal to gravity (9.8 m/s-2), it experiences…

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Correct answer: Zero

12. An object in a satellite orbiting around the Earth is weightless because:

  • 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…

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Correct answer: No force acts on it

13. The pilot weighting 686N dived down with an acceleration of 9.8m sec-2 its apparent weight is

  • 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…

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Correct answer: Zero

14. The weight of a pilot when diving down in a jet plane with an acceleration of 9.8m/s2 will become

  • A. Double
  • B. Half
  • C. Negative
  • D. Zero

Explanation: Weight of pilot = Original Weight + Apparent Weight = mg+(-ma) a= 9.8ms-2 So weight of pilot = 0

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Correct answer: Zero

15. An object in a satellite orbiting around the earth is weightless because:

  • A. g = 0
  • B. No force acts on it
  • C. Its motion is free fall
  • D. It is far away from the earth

Explanation: The correct answer is that an object in a satellite orbiting around the Earth is weightless because its motion is in free fall.

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Correct answer: Its motion is free fall
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