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What will be the apparent weight of the body orbiting around the Earth?

What will be the apparent weight of the body orbiting around the Earth?

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2 Answers

Arun
25750 Points
4 years ago
Let the satellite is moving with a speed V in a circular path of radius R. So, along with the satellite, the astronaut will also move. If m is the mass of the astronaut. Then the centrifugal force (Normal reaction) acts on him is,
 
FN = mV2R.
Here, the weight of the person is,
 
W = mg.
 
Then, Apparent weight of the astronaut is,
 
Wapp = W − FN
 
As we know, if the centrifugal acceleration of the satellite is less than that of the acceleration due to gravity, the satellite moves towards the earth and if the velocity increases, then the centrifugal force will become more than the acceleration due to gravity, then the satellite moves away from the earth.
 
So, here, both the centrifugal acceleration and the acceleration due to gravity are same, because the satellite is moving in a circular orbit of fixed radius.
 
Therefore, FN = Weight
So, Apparent weight is,
 
Wapp = W − FN ⇒ Wapp = 0.
 
So, astronaut feels weightless
 
 
Vikas TU
14149 Points
4 years ago
Dear student 
Let us take the example that orbiting Body is a satellite.
The centrifugal acceleration and the acceleration due to gravity are same,because the satellite is moving in a circular orbit of fixed radius.If in case centrifugal acceleration of the satellite is less than that of the acceleration due to gravity,the satellite moves towards the earth and if the velocity increases,then the centrifugal force will become more than the acceleration due to gravity,then the satellite moves away from the earth.
Therefore the astronaut feels weightless.

Explanation:
weight = mg g = 0 in artificially satellite
hence
weight of astronaut = zero

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