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Re: summary of weight



----- Original Message -----
From: John Denker <jsd@MONMOUTH.COM>
To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
Sent: Saturday, October 16, 1999 5:10 PM
Subject: summary of weight


. . .
The definition can again be stated
weight = M * g
but to achieve full generality we must define g to be the acceleration
of
the chosen reference frame, relative to an instantaneously colocated
freely
falling frame.
. . .
copyright (C) 1999 John S. Denker jsd@monmouth.com

Can I choose ANY reference frame? Eg., can I ask for the weight of an
orbiting astronaut in the "earth surface" frame? Is he then weightless in
this frame?

Bob

Bob Sciamanda (W3NLV)
Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (em)
trebor@velocity.net
http://www.velocity.net/~trebor