Passengers in a high-flying jumbo jet feel their normal weight in flight,whereas passengers in an orbiting space vehicle do not because they are
A)beyond the main pull of Earth's gravity.
B)above the Earth's atmosphere.
C)without support forces.
D)all the above
E)none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Passengers in an orbiting space vehicle feel weightless because they are in free fall towards Earth, but their forward motion keeps them in orbit. This condition means there are no support forces acting on them, unlike in a jumbo jet where the normal force from the plane's floor provides the sensation of weight.

Passengers in a High-Flying Jumbo Jet Feel Their Normal Weight