Weightlessness experienced while orbiting the earth in space-ship, is the result of

Options

A. Inertia
B. Acceleration
C. Zero gravity
D. Free fall towards earth

Answer

To understand why weightlessness is experienced while orbiting the Earth in a spaceship, let's break it down step by step:

### Step 1: Understanding Weight
Weight is the force exerted on an object due to gravity. It is calculated using the formula:
\[ \text{Weight} (W) = \text{mass} (m) \times \text{gravitational acceleration} (g) \]
Where \( g \) is approximately \( 9.8 \, \text{m/s}^2 \) near the Earth's surface.

### Step 2: The Concept of Free Fall
When an object is in free fall, it is falling under the influence of gravity alone, without any other forces acting on it (like air resistance). In this state, the object does not experience any contact force opposing gravity, which means it does not feel its weight.

### Step 3: Orbiting the Earth
When a spaceship orbits the Earth, it is essentially in a continuous state of free fall towards the planet. The spaceship is moving forward at a high speed while simultaneously being pulled towards the Earth by gravity. However, because it is moving forward fast enough, it keeps missing the Earth, creating a circular path around it.

### Step 4: The Experience of Weightlessness
Inside the spaceship, everything, including the astronauts, is in free fall together with the spacecraft. Since there is no contact force acting on them (like the ground pushing up against them), they do not feel their weight. This sensation is what we refer to as "weightlessness."

### Step 5: Misconception about Zero Gravity
It is a common misconception that weightlessness means there is no gravity. In reality, gravity is still acting on the spaceship and its occupants; however, they do not feel it because they are in free fall. The gravitational force is still present, but the lack of a normal force (the force that would be felt if they were standing on a surface) leads to the sensation of weightlessness.

### Conclusion
Weightlessness experienced while orbiting the Earth in a spaceship is the result of being in free fall. The spaceship and everything inside it are falling towards the Earth due to gravity, but because they are also moving forward, they do not collide with the Earth, creating the sensation of weightlessness.

---