An astronaut orbits the earth in a space capsule whose height above the earth is equal to the earth's radius. How does the weight of the astronaut in the capsule compare to her weight on the earth?
A)Her weight is equal to zero newtons.
B)Her weight is approximately equal to one-fourth her weight on earth.
C)Her weight is approximately equal to one-half of her weight on earth.
D)Her weight is approximately equal to one-third of her weight on earth.
E)Her weight is approximately equal to one-sixteenth her weight on earth.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When an object is at a height equal to the radius of the earth, the force of gravity acting on it is only one-fourth of the force of gravity acting on it at the surface of the earth. This means that the weight of the astronaut in the capsule is only one-fourth of her weight on earth. Therefore, the best choice is B.

An Astronaut Orbits the Earth in a Space Capsule Whose