For the astronauts inside an orbiting space vehicle the force of gravity that acts on them is
A)zero.
B)mainly due to Earth below.
C)mainly due to the mass of the space vehicle.
D)mainly due to nearby planets and stars.
E)none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The force of gravity acting on the astronauts is mainly due to the Earth below them. Although the mass of the space vehicle does contribute to the gravitational force, it is much less significant compared to the Earth. The influence of nearby planets and stars is also negligible in most cases. However, the force felt by the astronauts is not zero, as they are still being pulled downward toward the Earth, even though they are technically in freefall around it.

For the Astronauts Inside an Orbiting Space Vehicle the Force