Astronomy Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Preparation Guide

Question: 1 / 460

What happens to astronauts and objects inside a spacecraft when in weightlessness?

They are anchored to the floor

They float due to lack of mass

They don't fall to the floor because of their acceleration towards Earth

In a state of weightlessness, astronauts and objects inside a spacecraft are indeed in a condition often referred to as microgravity. This sensation arises because both the spacecraft and its occupants are in free fall towards Earth at the same rate, resulting in a uniform acceleration.

As the spacecraft orbits Earth, it continuously falls toward our planet but due to its forward velocity, it travels along a curved path. This creates the environment where everything inside experiences a sensation of weightlessness; they do not experience any resistance against gravity. Thus, they appear to float rather than being 'anchored' or having a lack of mass, which gives the illusion of zero gravity.

Understanding this is crucial as it illustrates that they are still influenced by gravity; rather, it's the falling motion of both the objects and the spacecraft together that creates the unique experience of weightlessness.

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They are not influenced by gravity

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