Circular and Satellite Motion Name:

Weightlessness
Read from Lesson 4 of the Circular and Satellite Motion chapter at The Physics Classroom:
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/Class/circles/u6l4d.cfm
MOP Connection: Circular Motion and Gravitation: sublevel 9
1. Analyze the following logical argument. At what step (i through iv) does a logical fallacy occur?
i. The weight of an object is equal to the force of gravity acting upon that object.
ii. Orbiting astronauts feel weightless as they orbit the Earth.
iii. A person who feels weightless is not acted upon by the force of gravity.
iv. There is no force of gravity acting upon orbiting astronauts.
Explain your answer.
It is the third step of the argument that contains the fallacy. Weightless feelings do not result from
the absence of gravity. Rather, weightless feelings result when gravity is the only force and there are
no other forces to counteract its effect. The force of gravity is never felt since it is not a contact force.
We can only feel those contact forces that counter-act the effect of gravity.
2. When you stand on a bathroom scale, the scale does not measure the
force of gravity (i.e., weight) acting upon your mass. What does the scale
measure? __The normal force__ If a scale does not technically measure
your weight, then why is it often used to measure your weight? Express
your understanding of forces, Newton's second law of motion, and
bathroom scales by discussing these questions.
The scale measures the force of the scale upon your body. This so-called
normal force is equal to the downward force of gravity (a.k.a., your
weight) whenever you are not accelerating. If you are accelerating – for
example, bouncing up and down – the scale will still measure the normal
force but the normal force will not be equal to your weight. So if you
want the scale to measure your weight, stand on it (motionless).

Otis L. Evaderz is conducting his famous elevator experiments. Otis stands on a bathroom scale and
reads the scale while ascending and descending the John Hancock building. Otis weighs 750 N, but
notices that the scale readings depend on what the elevator is doing. Use a free-body diagram and
Newton's second law of motion to solve the following problems.
3. What is the scale reading when Otis accelerates upwards at +0.50 m/s2? PSYW
m = Fgrav/g = (750 N)/(9.8 N/kg) = 75.53 … kg
Fnet = m•a = (75.53 … kg)•(0.50 m/s2) = 38.26 … N, upward
Scale reading = Fnorm = Fgrav + Fnet = 750 N + 38.26 … N = 788 N
4. What is the scale reading when Otis is traveling upward at a constant velocity of at 2 m/s? PSYW
Scale Reading = 750 N When there is no acceleration, the forces are balanced. So Fnorm = Fgrav
and the scale reading is equal to Otis’ weight.

5. As Otis approaches the top of the building, the elevator slows down at a rate of 0.50 m/s2. Be
cautious of the sign on acceleration. What does the scale read? PSYW
Fnet = m•a = (75.53 … kg)•(0.50 m/s2) = 38.26 … N, downward
Scale reading = Fnorm = Fgrav - Fnet = 750 N - 38.26 … N = 712 N
6. Otis stops at the top floor and then accelerates at a rate of -0.50 m/s2. What does the scale read?
PSYW
Fnet = m•a = (75.53 … kg)•(0.50 m/s2) = 38.26 … N, downward
Scale reading = Fnorm = Fgrav - Fnet = 750 N - 38.26 … N = 712 N

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7. As Otis approaches the ground floor, the elevator slows down at a rate of +0.50 m/s2. Be cautious of
the sign on acceleration. What does the scale read? PSYW
Fnet = m•a = (75.53 … kg)•(0.50 m/s2) = 38.26 … N, upward
Scale reading = Fnorm = Fgrav + Fnet = 750 N + 38.26 … N = 788 N

Otis L. Evaderz desired to conduct the following experiment. Otis wanted the building engineers to
allow the elevator to free fall from the top floor for fifty floors. Otis would observe the scale reading.
Then the engineers would activate the safety system and slow the elevator down with an acceleration
value of +15.0 m/s2.
8. What would the scale read during the free fall stage of the experiment? PSYW
When in free fall, Otis accelerates downward at 9.8 m/s2. This is caused by gravity alone. There is no
upward normal force. So the scale reading is 0 N.
9. What would the scale read during the slowing down stage of the experiment? PSYW
While slowing down, there must be more upward normal force than the downward gravity force.
Fnet = m•a = (75.53 … kg)•(15.0 m/s2) = 1150 N, upward (1147.95 … N, upward)
Scale reading = Fnorm = Fgrav + Fnet = 750 N + 1147.95 … N = 1.90 x 103 N (1897.95 … N)
10. In questions #3-9, is Otis' weight changing? ____No____Otis weighs 750 N at all times.___
Is Otis' sensation of weight changing? ___Yes___ Explain why or why not.
Otis cannot feel the force of gravity since it is a non-contact force. His sense of his weight comes
from feeling the contact forces that counteract the force of gravity. In this case, the contact force is
the force of the scale pushing up on his body. During the ride, this force is continuously changing.
And so Otis’ sense of his weight is also changing.
11. Earth-orbiting astronauts feel weightless in space because _____. Choose all that apply.
Answers: A, B, E, I, and J
a. They are in free-fall motion.
b. There is an absence of contact forces acting upon their bodies.
c. The weight of objects diminish to close to 0 N at these distances from Earth's center.
d. There is no gravity in space.
e. Gravity is the only force acting upon their bodies.
f. There is no air resistance in space.
g. They haven't eaten for days.
h. The rotation rate of the Earth upon its axis is so rapid it gives a sensation of weightlessness.
i. They are not experiencing any support forces.
j. Their surroundings are accelerating to the earth at the same rate they are.
k. The acceleration of gravity (g) at these distances is close to 0 m/s/s.

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