Question

Astronauts on the orbiting space station are weightless because...

• A. there is no gravity in space and they do not weigh anything.
• B. space is a vacuum and there is no gravity in a vacuum.
• C. space is a vacuum and there is no air resistance in a vacuum.
• D. None of the reasons given above are correct

Answer 1

The correct option is D None of the reasons given above are correct

As the astronauts are in a frame which is rotating around the earth and the centripetal acceleration on astronauts and the satellite is $same$, $g=GM/r^2$ where $r$ is the radius of the orbit. So relative to the satellite the astronauts can't exert any force on satellite so no reaction force from the satellites so they feel the condition of weightlessness.

Its same like an elevator falling from top to ground freely $cable$ broken.

So the man in the elevator and the elevator have same acceleration $g$ so the man can't exert any force on the elevator so the condition of weightlessness.

Option D is correct.