Feeling of weightlessness in a satellite is due to

Options

A. zero gravitational acceleration
B. zero acceleration
C. zero mass
D. none of these.

Explanation

To solve the question regarding the feeling of weightlessness in a satellite, we can break it down into the following steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Weightlessness**:
- Weightlessness is the sensation experienced by an object or person when there are no contact forces acting upon them. This occurs when the only force acting on them is gravity, and they are in free fall.

2. **Gravitational Force in a Satellite**:
- A satellite in orbit around the Earth is constantly falling towards the Earth due to gravity. However, because it has a high tangential velocity, it moves forward at the same time, creating a curved path around the Earth.

3. **Acceleration Due to Gravity**:
- Even though a satellite is far from the Earth's surface, it still experiences gravitational acceleration. However, this acceleration is not zero; it is less than that on the surface of the Earth but not negligible.

4. **Free Fall Condition**:
- The satellite and everything inside it (including astronauts) are in a state of free fall. They are falling towards the Earth at the same rate, which creates the sensation of weightlessness.

5. **Conclusion**:
- The feeling of weightlessness in a satellite is not due to zero gravitational acceleration but rather due to being in a continuous state of free fall where the gravitational force is acting on both the satellite and its occupants equally. Therefore, the correct answer is that weightlessness is due to the condition of free fall, not zero gravitational acceleration.

### Final Answer:
The feeling of weightlessness in a satellite is due to the state of free fall, where the gravitational force acts equally on the satellite and its contents.

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