Question
Download Solution PDFAn astronaut whose weight on the Earth is 600 N experiences weightless- ness on International Space Station orbiting around the Earth. It means that
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFCONCEPT:
Weightlessness in Space
- Weightlessness occurs when there is no net force acting on a body, making it appear as though it has no weight.
- In the context of an astronaut on the International Space Station (ISS), this sensation is due to the fact that both the astronaut and the ISS are in free-fall around the Earth.
EXPLANATION:
- An astronaut experiences weightlessness because:
- The normal reaction of the space-station floor on the astronaut is zero.
- The astronaut and the space station are both accelerating towards the Earth at the same rate due to gravity, creating a continuous free-fall scenario.
- However, it does not mean that:
- The gravitational pull of Earth on the astronaut is zero. The gravitational force is still acting on the astronaut, which is why they are in orbit.
- The acceleration of the astronaut is zero. They are accelerating towards the Earth due to gravity, but this acceleration is what creates the orbit.
- The space station applies a centrifugal force on the astronaut. The sensation of weightlessness is due to the free-fall, not a centrifugal force.
Therefore, the correct statement is that the normal reaction of the space-station floor on the astronaut is zero.
Last updated on May 30, 2025
->UPSC has released UPSC NDA 2 Notification on 28th May 2025 announcing the NDA 2 vacancies.
-> A total of 406 vacancies have been announced for NDA 2 Exam 2025.
->The NDA exam date 2025 has been announced for cycle 2. The written examination will be held on 14th September 2025.
-> Earlier, the UPSC NDA 1 Exam Result has been released on the official website.
-> The selection process for the NDA exam includes a Written Exam and SSB Interview.
-> Candidates who get successful selection under UPSC NDA will get a salary range between Rs. 15,600 to Rs. 39,100.
-> Candidates must go through the NDA previous year question paper. Attempting the NDA mock test is also essential.