Question

A person sitting in a chair in a satellite feels weightless because
(a) the earth does not attract the objects in a satellite
(b) the normal force by the chair on the person balances the earth's attraction
(c) the normal force is zero
(d) the person in satellite is not accelerated.

Answer 1

A person sitting in a chair in a satellite feels weightless because the normal force is zero

Explanation:

• Different bodies exert different gravitational force on other bodies depending upon their mass.  The satellite revolves around the earth in its own orbit.
• Also, the gravitational force exerted by the earth on the satellite is balanced by the centripetal force due to which the satellite revolves around the earth.
• Hence, the person sitting in the chair inside the satellite will experience no gravitational force from the earth.