Question

Why a person feel weightlessness in a spacecraft orbiting around a heavenly body​

Answer 1

The orbital velocity an aircraft orbiting around a heavenly body is found as follows;

At the orbital velocity,
`F_G` =
`F_C`

Where;

`F_G` = The gravitational force =
`(G \cdot M \cdot m)/(R_E^2)`

`F_C` = The centripetal force =
`(m \cdot v_0^2)/(R_E)`

Therefore

`v_0 = \sqrt{(G \cdot M)/(R_E) }`

Therefore, at the orbital velocity of the spacecraft, the centripetal force attracting the person away from the central region heavenly body is equal to the gravitational force pulling the person towards the center of the heavenly body (which was felt as her or his weight), and the person feels weightless while inside the orbiting spacecraft

Step-by-step explanation: