JEE Main Physics question

A person sitting on a chair in a satellite feels weightless because **[UP SEE 2004]**

(A)The earth does 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 zeroCorrect
(D)The person in satellite is not accelerated

Answer: (C)

Solution

Both the satellite and the person are in free fall around the earth (gravity still fully acts, providing the centripetal acceleration), so the chair need not exert any supporting (normal) force on the person. Weightlessness is felt because this normal force is zero, not because gravity

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Question ID VK-154374