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Grade 9Mechanics

pls explain why does a astronuat feels weghtlessness in a space shuttle in orbit of the earth????? Also explain the relation between weightlesnss and free fall

Profile image of Shivam Bhagat
15 Years agoGrade 9
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Profile image of Tejas Paresh Lodaya
15 Years ago
The astronaut feels weightless because the centrifugal and centripetal force(gravitation force) cancel out each other hence there is no external force acting on the astronaut so he is there in the condition of weightlessness. The condition of weightlessness is achieved as explained above however 100% weightlessness could never be experienced in the condition of astronaut only 10% weightlessness is achieved.100% weightlessness can only b experienced in deep space where there is no influence of any force.Whereas in free fall the body moves under the effect of g.