Re: [Phys-l] Weightless

["Anthony Lapinski" <Anthony_Lapinski@pds.org>]

I agree. This is why I discuss bathroom scales and apparent weight. If
someone says there is gravity acting on the astronauts AND they are also
weightless, it ads to more confusion...

Forum for Physics Educators <phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu> writes:
> In the 'g' thread, we've (yet again) opened up the definition of weight 
> debate.  While I see certain pedagogical advantages to either of the two 
> main approaches, I would ask if the proponents of saying that one IS 
> weightless while in the space station can explain that from a Newtonian 
> viewpoint?  Seems to me that there is only one force acting on the
> person. 
> If we call that the gravitational force due to the earth, then what
> (again 
> in the Newtonian viewpoint) is weight?  Isn't this gravitational force a 
> component of your weight?  But it is the only component here in the 
> Newtonian view and is not zero!
>
> Rick (who likes weight as GMm/R^2--despite difficulties therein--because
> the 
> 'apparent' weight approach ties to discussions of fictitious forces in a
> way 
> that I think is more closely connected to student's everyday experiences.)
>
> ***************************
> Richard W. Tarara
> Professor of Physics
> Saint Mary's College
> Notre Dame, IN
> rtarara@saintmarys.edu
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