You are explaining to friends why astronauts feel weightless orbiting in the space shuttle, and they respond that they thought gravity was just a lot weaker up there. Convince them and yourself that it isn't so by calculating how much weaker gravity is 700 km above the Earth's surface.
(delta g/g)= ? %
(delta g/g)= ? %
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http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hba…
(g0 - g)/g0 = 18.8%
(g0 - g)/g0 = 18.8%
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They have to orbit to feel weightless.
Sure, gravity still exists, but in orbiting, is nulled by the centripetal force of the orbit.
You can't convince them that the gravity is not "just weaker up there", because it is!
You need to convince them of the involvement of centripetal force, not how the gravity is weaker. They already know that.
Sure, gravity still exists, but in orbiting, is nulled by the centripetal force of the orbit.
You can't convince them that the gravity is not "just weaker up there", because it is!
You need to convince them of the involvement of centripetal force, not how the gravity is weaker. They already know that.