The amount of gravitational force that acts on the space shuttle while in orbit is
A)nearly zero.
B)almost as much as the shuttle's weight on the Earth's surface.
C)the same as the shuttle's weight on the Earth's surface.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The gravitational force acting on the space shuttle in orbit is almost as much as its weight on Earth's surface because gravity decreases with distance but is still significant at the altitude of low Earth orbit. The shuttle is in free fall, which creates the sensation of weightlessness, but the gravitational force is not zero.

The Amount of Gravitational Force That Acts on the Space