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Chapter 18: Problem 7

Astronauts in the International Space Station a. have no mass. b. have no weight. c. are outside of Earth's gravitational field. d. are in free fall.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Astronauts in the ISS are in free fall.

Step by step solution

01

Analyze each option

Start by evaluating each option to understand what it implies. Astronauts cannot have no mass because mass is a property of matter and does not change based on location. Similarly, they cannot be outside of Earth's gravitational field as the ISS orbits within Earth's gravity.
02

Explanation of mass

Understand that mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object and it remains constant irrespective of the object's location. Hence, option (a) is incorrect.
03

Explanation of weight

Weight is the force exerted on a mass by gravity. Although weight changes with the gravitational force, astronauts in the ISS still experience Earth’s gravity. Hence, option (b) is incorrect.
04

Understanding Earth's gravitational field

The ISS orbits about 400 kilometers above Earth, well within its gravitational influence. Therefore, astronauts are not outside Earth's gravitational field, making option (c) incorrect.
05

Free fall concept

In orbital mechanics, objects in orbit are technically in continuous free fall towards Earth but move forward fast enough that they keep missing it. Hence, astronauts in the ISS are in free fall, making option (d) correct.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is a habitable space station that orbits around Earth. It serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory in which scientific research is conducted in astrobiology, astronomy, meteorology, physics, and other fields. The ISS allows astronauts to live and work in space for extended periods of time. It orbits Earth at an average altitude of approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles). The ISS is a collaborative project involving multiple countries and space agencies, including NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, ESA, and CSA.
free fall
When we talk about free fall, we mean that an object is falling under the influence of gravity alone, with no other forces acting on it. In the case of astronauts on the ISS, they are in a state of continuous free fall towards Earth. However, the ISS is moving forward at such a high speed that as it falls, it keeps missing Earth. This creates a sensation of weightlessness for the astronauts inside. Although they are still under the influence of Earth's gravity, they do not feel it because they are accelerating at the same rate as the station.
Earth's gravitational field
Earth's gravitational field is the region of space surrounding Earth where objects experience a force due to Earth's gravity. The strength of this gravitational pull decreases with distance from Earth, but it never completely disappears. The ISS orbits within this gravitational field, experiencing about 90% of Earth's surface gravity. This is why astronauts aboard the ISS still feel the effects of gravity, albeit in a different way compared to being on the ground. It is essential to understand that gravity provides the centripetal force needed to keep the ISS in orbit.
orbital mechanics
Orbital mechanics is the study of the motions of objects in space, influenced by gravitational forces. It explains how objects like the ISS remain in stable orbits around Earth. According to Newton's first law of motion, an object will continue in its state of motion unless acted upon by an external force. For the ISS, the combination of its forward velocity and the pull of Earth's gravity keeps it in a continuous free fall, resulting in a circular or elliptical path around the planet. The speed at which the ISS travels is crucial; too slow, and it would fall back to Earth; too fast, and it would escape Earth's gravity.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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