An astronaut in orbit around Earth drops her pen, and it floats gently next to her hand.Why does it not fall to the floor?
A) There is no gravity in space.
B) The gravitational pull is very weak at typical altitudes for orbiting spacecraft.
C) Objects in orbit have no mass.
D) All objects in the spacecraft are falling toward Earth at the same rate.
E) The net force on the pen is zero.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Both the astronaut and the pen are in free fall, orbiting Earth together, so they experience weightlessness and fall at the same rate, making the pen appear to float.

An Astronaut in Orbit Around Earth Drops Her Pen, and It