Final answer:
A satellite in orbit is indeed in free fall because it is solely under the influence of Earth's gravity, which provides the centripetal force for its orbit, and not because the value of gravitational acceleration is 9.80 m/s² at all altitudes.
Step-by-step explanation:
In discussing whether a satellite in orbit is in free fall, we agree with the first student's viewpoint. A satellite is in free fall because it is continuously falling towards Earth due to gravity, but it has a tangential velocity that keeps it in orbit.
The confusion seems to arise from misunderstanding the term 'free fall' and associating it with the acceleration due to gravity at Earth's surface, which is 9.80 m/s². However, free fall simply means that the only force acting on the object is gravity. This is definitely the case for satellites in orbit, even though the acceleration due to gravity varies with altitude and is not exactly 9.80 m/s² as it is near the surface of the Earth.
Gravity diminishes with distance from Earth, but it never becomes zero. Hence, a satellite in orbit experiences a centripetal force due to gravity that changes its direction of motion such that it keeps moving in a curved path around Earth. The satellite's velocity is perpendicular to the force of gravity, creating a balance that results in a circular or elliptical orbit rather than a direct fall to Earth. Therefore, the idea of free fall in the context of an orbiting satellite doesn't equate to the same gravitational acceleration observed on the surface but instead to the condition of gravitational force being the sole force acting on the satellite.