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Explain why a person in an artificial satellite orbiting the earth, feels himself to be weightless. |
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Answer» Solution :Let the artificial satellite be in an orbitof RADIUS R with respect to the centre of the earth. The NECESSARY centripetal force for keeping the man of mass m moving in the ORBIT is supplied by the resultant of the gravitational force of the earth `mg^.`on the person and the upward reaction R of the plane of the satellite on the person. That is `mg^.-R=(mv^2)/r`.......(1) The necessary centripetal force, to keep the satellite of mass M moving ,is supplied by the gravitational attraction of the earthon the satellite. Hence, `Mg^.=(Mv^2)/ror, g^.=(v^2)/r` .........(2) From (1) and (2) we have, `mg^.-R=mg^. or, R=0` As the upward reaction force is zero, the person feels WEIGHTLESS. |
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