A "weightless" astronaut in an orbiting shuttle is
A) like the shuttle, pulled by Earth's gravitation.
B) shielded from the Earth's gravitational field.
C) beyond the pull of gravity.
D) pulled only by gravitation to the shuttle which cancels the Earth's gravitational pull.
E) none of these

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Astronauts appear "weightless" in an orbiting shuttle because they are in free fall around the Earth, experiencing the same acceleration due to gravity as the shuttle. They are not beyond the pull of gravity or shielded from it; rather, both they and the shuttle are continuously falling toward Earth but also moving forward, so they keep missing it. This creates the sensation of weightlessness.

A "Weightless" Astronaut in an Orbiting Shuttle Is