Question

Why do astronauts feel weightless in a satellite?

• A. zero gravity
• B. zero reaction force due to the satelllite surface
• C. centre of mass
• D. can’t be said

Answer 1

The correct option is B

zero reaction force due to the satelllite surface

When someone is standing on a still surface or a surface under uniform motion, the weight is balanced by the reaction of the surface. This reactionary force gives the feeling of weight. On a satellite, astronauts are under centripetal acceleration corresponding to the gravitational pull of Earth and the reactionary force foes not comes into play giving the feeling of being weightless.