Question

Why do astronauts feel weightless inside an orbiting satellite?

Options

• No gravity there

• Satellite and astronauts fall together with acceleration = g

• The satellite moves away fast

• Normal force is very large

Answer 1

Satellite and astronauts fall together with acceleration = g

Explanation:

The satellite continuously falls toward Earth with acceleration g. Since both the satellite floor and the astronaut accelerate together at the same rate (g), the normal reaction force is zero.