Depends how you define the term 'weight'
'Mass' is the scientific term for the inherent property of matter that (among other things) causes objects to fall under the force of gravity. The term 'weight' is much less well defined, and for the purposes of describing the phenomenon of floating around in a space capsule 'weightlessness' is a perfectly reasonable description of being in a state where force of gravity appears to have been suspended and things do not fall towards the earth as they would normally do.
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notoolsovernight you're all luvvly an' 'orrible, Mon 23 Feb 2015, 16:15,
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In the middle of Material Science, and Mechanical Physics course...
So "Weight = mass x gravity" has been pummelled into my head with vigorous fervour.
So I agree with you that, in orbit, we experience "free-fall counteracted by velocity" and the true "weightlessness" only exists, in theory, in interstellar space.
And I bloody wish that mankind would send a probe to confirm or deny it instead of invading another stupid place full of brown people, or refinancing bankers with gambling habits.
I think the F35 or the bailout has already cost multiples of the total budget NASA or ESA budget since their inception.
So as much as I like fancy jets and fat cat bankers, I think that we, as a race, should strive a bit more for science and a bit less on dick waving and pocket filling.
(, Mon 23 Feb 2015, 16:59, Share, Reply)
They are weightless in the sense that if they put a bathroom scale on their feet, it would measure zero
The common misconception is that they are experiencing 'zero gravity'.
Zero-gravity is essentially impossible as long as there are atoms in the universe - Anything with mass creates a gravitational field.
As already described, the effect is due to being in a state of freefall.
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HoratioFellatio Taking the the out of psychotherapist, Mon 23 Feb 2015, 17:16,
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I waited over 5 hours for this phrase.
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FeralCatMan Unusual disease collector., Mon 23 Feb 2015, 19:21,
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