In free-fall, what happens to the apparent weight of a body?

In free-fall, what happens to the apparent weight of a body?

• A. It increases significantly
• B. It remains constant
• C. It switches to negative
• D. It becomes zero

Answer: (D)

During free-fall, a body experiences a state of weightlessness due to the acceleration of gravity acting on it. In this condition, both the object and the observer (such as someone inside an elevator that is in free-fall) are accelerating downward at the same rate as the gravitational pull. Because of this simultaneous acceleration, the normal force, which is what contributes to the sensation of weight, effectively becomes zero. An object in free-fall does not exert a force against a surface, which is typically responsible for the feeling of weight. Therefore, the apparent weight of the body is perceived as zero. This phenomenon is often experienced by astronauts in orbit, where they are continuously in free-fall towards Earth but with sufficient horizontal velocity to maintain an orbit. Consequently, even though gravity is still acting on them, they do not feel any weight. This understanding illustrates why the correct answer is that the apparent weight becomes zero in free-fall.

During free-fall, a body experiences a state of weightlessness due to the acceleration of gravity acting on it. In this condition, both the object and the observer (such as someone inside an elevator that is in free-fall) are accelerating downward at the same rate as the gravitational pull.

Because of this simultaneous acceleration, the normal force, which is what contributes to the sensation of weight, effectively becomes zero. An object in free-fall does not exert a force against a surface, which is typically responsible for the feeling of weight. Therefore, the apparent weight of the body is perceived as zero.

This phenomenon is often experienced by astronauts in orbit, where they are continuously in free-fall towards Earth but with sufficient horizontal velocity to maintain an orbit. Consequently, even though gravity is still acting on them, they do not feel any weight. This understanding illustrates why the correct answer is that the apparent weight becomes zero in free-fall.