0
Typically, an astronaut and their vehicle are in free fall around the Earth (orbit). This feels like going down a big hill on a roller coaster, but it doesn't stop until reentry.
If you sat on a weighing scale while riding a roller coaster, you would see your weight change with changes in momentum as the roller coaster climbed, fell, banked etc.... Say you normally weigh 150lbs, when you're climbing up the big hill, the scale would show you weighing more than 150 (your weight plus the acceleration as you gain altitude). When you crest the hill and plummet downward, the scale will read much less than 150lb, as your seat, the scale & YOU fall back towards the ground.
Likewise, an astronaut sitting on scale would weigh more than normal during lift off and climbing to orbit. Typically, astronauts will weigh 2-4 times their normal weight during this time. Once the spacecraft is in orbit, it is in continuous free fall around the Earth. The scale would read "0" (zero).
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Where does an astronaut start to feel weightless?
when the rockets stop firing, astronauts begin free fall (weightless).
What new choices does living in a weightless environment give an astronaut?
they have to exercise their muscles wherever they are.
What are Benefits of being a astronaut?
You get to experience living in space, floating around in a weightless environment, and viewing the earth from a third party perspective. Astronauts are viewed as the elite, and are often highly respected.
Why does an astronaut still have the same mass on the moon?
Your mass is the amount of matter that contains, it is your weight that will differ due to gravity. The astronaut still has the same amount of matter whether he be on earth, in space, or on the moon, though due to the different strenghts of gravity he will weight the most on earth, 1/6th of this on the moon, and be weightless in outer space.
The highest satellite are about 5.6 earth radii from the centre of the earth .this is about a tenth of the way to the moon. what would be the force of gravity be on a50 kg astronaut at this location?
The force of gravity on Earth for this astronaut is 50 x 9.8 = 490 Newton. Divide this by 5.6 squared, and you get 15.6 Newton.Note that the astronaut will not feel this force, because he is in free fall; any space capsule he is in will accelerate towards Earth with the same speed as him, and he will feel weightless.
Why does an astronaut become weightless in space?
Yes
Does an astronaut have mass on the space shuttle if its weightless?
yes
Where does an astronaut start to feel weightless?
when the rockets stop firing, astronauts begin free fall (weightless).
What new choices does living in a weightless environment give an astronaut?
they have to exercise their muscles wherever they are.
Why do astronaut feel weightless in space?
They actually are weightless, due to the fact there is no gravity in space. However a sky-diver would say he/she feels weightless, but they are experiencing free-fall.
What must happen for an astronaut to appear weightless?
He (or she) must float motionless and unattached to any object or cable.
What is a space shuttle like in space?
Technically, as an astronaut is weightless in space, so should a space shuttle!
Are astronauts really weightless in orbit why not?
because both the astronaut and the satellite is attracted towards the center of the earth
What anastronaut working in Space near the International space station says she feel weightless. What does she mean Does the astronaut no have weight?
It actually means that the astronaut is in free fall, and doesn't FEEL gravity. Gravity does affect the astronaut, so the astronaut will still be accelerated towards Earth. However, the astronaut won't feel the gravity.
Why an astronaut's digestive system still works even when weightless in space?
ahahah nica sorry but i dont answer questions for ugly as people
What is a sentence for weightlessness?
The weightless astronaut landed on Mars, which has no gravity.
Could an astronaut be crushed to death between two huge girders moving toward each other in space even if they were weightless?
Yes
