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  3. Physics
  4. STATEMENT-1 An astronaut in an orbiting space station above the Earth experiences weightlessness. and STATEMENT-2 An object moving around the Earth under the influence of Earth’s gravitational force is in a state of ‘free-fall’.

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Q. STATEMENT-1
An astronaut in an orbiting space station above the Earth experiences weightlessness.
and
STATEMENT-2
An object moving around the Earth under the influence of Earth’s gravitational force is in a state of ‘free-fall’.

JEE AdvancedJEE Advanced 2008

Solution:

In the frame of reference of the orbiting space station (non-inertial frame), the gravitational force is balanced by the centrifugal force (pseudo-force). Hence, the normal reaction becomes zero and the astronaut feels weightless. Thus, Statement- 1 is true.
The above situation is equivalent to a state of free-fall. Hence, Statement2 is the correct explanation for Statement-1.