DECK ISS011E05140 Astronaut John Phillips is floating in one of the science labs

Question

DECK ISS011E05140 Astronaut John Phillips is floating in one of the science labs on board the International Space Station which is in Earth orbit. Which of the following statements is correct? Select one: O a. The Earth exerts a force on John Phillips that is almost as strong as if he were on the surface. O b. The space station is shielding John Phillips from the Earth's gravity. O c. The Earth's gravity is not exerting a force on John Phillips O d. The Earth's gravity is exerting only a week force on John Phillips Check

Explanation / Answer

d. The earth gravity is exerting only a weak force.

We can tell that John Phillips is affected by the earths gravity becauce it is due to the eaths gravity that he experiences free fall in the space station and appears to float. The space station is attracted by the earts gravity and so is everything inside it and when anything is free in the ISS it starts to fall towards the earth but since the ISS is moving at a very high speed (approximately 175000miles/hr) the two forces balance in such a way that the curvature of the fall matches that of the earth and the object is in free fall, appearing to float.

If there would have been no force from the earth he would have experienced a large amount of centrifugal force an pushed onto the sides of the ISS.

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