Passengers in a high-flying jumbo jet feel their normal weight in flight, while passengers in an orbiting space vehicle do not, because passengers in the space vehicle 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 an orbiting space vehicle feel weightless because they are in free fall towards Earth, along with the space vehicle. There is no support force acting on them from the floor of the vehicle, as both are falling at the same rate. This is different from being in a high-flying jet, where the normal force from the plane's floor provides the support force, making passengers feel their weight.

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