Read The Resource About The International Space Station Iss

Read The Resource About The International Space Station Iss The Spa

Read the resource about the International Space Station (ISS). The space station orbits Earth about 400 km above the surface of Earth (NASA.gov). At this height, the force of gravity from Earth is only about 10% less than on the surface of Earth. Using the concepts of circular motion and gravitational forces, explain the following in your own words: Why does the space station not fall down? Why do the astronauts float inside the space station?

Paper For Above instruction

The International Space Station (ISS) remains in orbit around Earth due to the principles of circular motion governed by gravitational forces. Although the ISS is approximately 400 km above Earth's surface, gravity here is about 90% as strong as on the surface, exerting a continuous inward pull towards Earth. However, the space station doesn't fall to Earth because it is moving forward at a high tangential velocity—roughly 28,000 kilometers per hour—which causes it to continually "fall around" Earth rather than directly toward it. This is similar to how a satellite orbits; the combination of its velocity and gravity creates a stable circular path. Inside the ISS, astronauts float because they are in free fall together with the space station. Both the station and the astronauts are accelerating towards Earth at the same rate, experiencing weightlessness as they do not exert a normal force on each other, resulting in the sensation of floating. This creates a microgravity environment, making astronauts appear to drift freely within the station.

References

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