Question

A person sitting on a chair in a satellite feels weightless because

• A. The earth dose not attract the object in a satellite
• B. The normal force by the chair on the person balances the earth's attraction
• C. The normal force is zero
• D. The person in satellite is not accelerated

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

A person feels weightlessness in satellite orbit because he is in free fall along with the satellite and experiences no force of support from the satellite. The perception of weight comes from the support force exerted on one by the floor, a chair etc. If that support is removed and one is in free fall, we feel no experience of weight.