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

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Passengers in the space shuttle do not feel their normal weight because they are in a state of free fall along with the shuttle, effectively creating a condition of weightlessness. This occurs not because they are beyond Earth's gravity or simply above the atmosphere, but because both they and the shuttle are in continuous free fall towards Earth, with the shuttle's forward motion keeping it in orbit. This means there are no support forces acting on them in the usual way, leading to the sensation of weightlessness.

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