A person orbiting Earth in the Space Shuttle feels weightless because
A) two forces are acting on her in opposite directions, so they cancel and produce the same effect as if no force at all were acting.
B) her mass is zero in space, and weight requires mass.
C) no forces act on her.
D) only one force (gravity) acts on her, but gravity also accelerates the shuttle, so the shuttle does not push up on her to create the feeling of weight.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sensation of weightlessness in orbit, such as in the Space Shuttle, is due to the fact that both the astronaut and the shuttle are in free fall towards Earth, being continuously accelerated by gravity. This creates a condition where the shuttle does not exert a force against the astronaut, leading to the feeling of weightlessness.

A Person Orbiting Earth in the Space Shuttle Feels Weightless