Why do astronauts feel weightless in an orbiting spacecraft?

(B) An astronaut orbiting the Earth does feel weightless because there is no ground or normal force to counteract the force of gravity. Thus, the astronaut is falling. However, since the astronaut is also moving forward super fast, he/she continuously falls around the Earth rather than crashing into the Earth.

Why does an astronaut in a spacecraft feel weightlessness Class 11?

Astronauts orbiting in space feel a sense of weightlessness because there is no external contact force in space pushing or pulling upon their bodies. Gravity is the only force acting upon their body. Gravity being an action-at-a-distance force cannot be felt and therefore would not provide any sensation of weight.

Why an astronaut in a space capsule orbiting the Earth experiences a feeling of weightlessness?

Since the acceleration of astronaut and that of the satellite revolving around the earth are equal with acceleration due to gravity, the acceleration of the astronaut with respect to the satellite is zero. Hence, the astronaut feels weightlessness with respect to the satellite.

Why do astronauts in space feel weightless Class 9?

We feel weight because the ground exerts an equal and opposite force on our body after our body exerts a force on the ground due to gravitational attraction. Now, when falling freely under g, there is no solid thing which can exert a force on us, which thus makes us feel to be having weightlessness.

What is weightlessness explain briefly?

weightlessness, condition experienced while in free-fall, in which the effect of gravity is canceled by the inertial (e.g., centrifugal) force resulting from orbital flight. The term zero gravity is often used to describe such a condition.

Why does a person feel weightlessness during freefall?

We weigh what we weigh and that doesn’t change when we jump out of an airplane. The reason we feel weightless is that we’re completely free of anything pushing or pulling on us. When we’re stood on the ground, the force of our feet on the ground and the ground against our feet is what makes us feel ‘weighted’.

What is weightlessness explain?

weightlessness, condition experienced while in free-fall, in which the effect of gravity is canceled by the inertial (e.g., centrifugal) force resulting from orbital flight. The term zero gravity is often used to describe such a condition. Crews of spacecraft are subject to the problems of weightlessness.

Why does an astronaut appear to be weightless?

The reason astronauts experience weightlessness is that they are in free fall. A spacecraft in orbit is falling towards the Earth, because of gravity, but it is moving forward in its orbit fast enough that the path it follows is a curve that is a closed ellipse.

Why do astronauts get depressed?

Depression can demotivate astronauts and affect their ability to concentrate. Although astronauts are carefully screened for psychological well-being, the extreme pressures of space travel means depression can take hold, according to Dr. Klaus Legner, from the European Space Agency (ESA) Medical Support Office.

Why are astronauts “weightless” in their spaceship in space?

There is no gravity in space and they do not weigh anything. Space is a vacuum and there is no gravity in a vacuum. The astronauts are too far away from Earth’s surface to be subject to its gravitational pull.

Why do astronauts in orbit feel wieghtless?

Without gravity, satellites would not be able to orbit around the earth and would simply move in straight line into space. The reason why astronauts feel weightless is because they are accelerating toward the earth at the same rate as the vehicle they are in.