After their rocket engines shut off, astronauts experience weightlessness in the orbiting Space Shuttle,
A) but they are not accelerating, since nothing actually has weight in space.
B) and they are accelerating because they are actually in free-fall.
C) and they are accelerating because they have constant velocity as they pass overhead.
D) but they cannot accelerate because their rocket engines are shut off.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the rocket engines shut off, the astronauts are actually in free-fall towards the Earth, but their forward velocity is what keeps them from falling into the atmosphere. This is why they experience weightlessness. Therefore, choice B is the best answer.

After Their Rocket Engines Shut Off, Astronauts Experience Weightlessness in the Orbiting