We experience weight on the earth because of the reaction of the floor to our weight. A particle in a container in free-fall experiences weightlessness. This is because there is no reaction to the particles weight from the container, as it is being pulled down with the same force. The acceleration of the container equals the acceration of the particle, which equals the acceleration caused by gravity. So weightlessness is when the acceleration of a body is equal to the acceleration caused by gravity.
A body orbiting the earth has the force of gravity pulling on it. This force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance of the body from the centre of the earth:
f = 1/r2
Acceleration is equal to the force divded by the mass of a body:
a = f/m
So the acceleration caused by gravity for this particle is equal to:
a = 1/r2m
Although the body orbitting the earth is travelling at a constant speed, it has not got a constant velocity. Velocity is a vector quantity depending on both speed and direction. Because the direction is constantly changing the velocity is actually accelerating. This acceleration is in the direction of the gravitational attraction of the body to the earth - towards the centre of the earth - and is equal to:
a = v2/r
For weightlessness to occur, this acceleration has to equal the acceleration caused by gravity:
v2/r = 1/r2m
v2 = 1/rm
This shows that the weightlessness depends on the velocity the body is travelling, the radius of the orbit and the mass of the body.
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