Question

astronauts in orbit around earth experience weightlessness. the photo below shows orbiting, weightless astronauts playing with orbiting, weightless fruit. select the true statements about this phenomenon. choose 2 answers: a the astronauts have completely escaped earths gravitational field. b the astronauts are still in a strong region of earths gravitational field. c the astronauts feel weightless because theyre falling around earth. d the astronauts feel weightless because they experience zero gravitational force from earth.

Explanation:

• Option A: Astronauts in orbit are still within Earth’s gravitational field (it provides the centripetal force for orbit), so they haven’t escaped it. Eliminate A.
• Option B: Orbit is possible because Earth’s gravity is strong enough to act as centripetal force, so they are in a strong gravitational region. Correct.
• Option C: Weightlessness in orbit occurs because the astronauts (and the fruit) are in free - fall (falling around Earth), so the normal force (which we perceive as weight) is zero. Correct.
• Option D: They do experience gravitational force from Earth (it’s what keeps them in orbit), so this is incorrect.

Answer:

B. The astronauts are still in a strong region of Earth's gravitational field.
C. The astronauts feel weightless because they're falling around Earth.