Re: [Phys-l] Weightless

[John Mallinckrodt <ajm@csupomona.edu>]

Rick Tarara wrote:

> For the 'apparent weighters' it is the apparent weight that is zero  
> because
> there is no force opposing the gravitational force and it is that  
> opposing
> force (usually the ground or chair) that provides us with the  
> sensation of
> weight.

All we need in order to have "the sensation of weight" (I would  
simply say in order to have weight) is the force from the chair, the  
ground, the floor of a spaceship, or ANY other surface that is in  
contact with us.  There is NO need for that force to oppose some  
putative "gravitational force."  Moreover the sensation that one gets  
in that situation is not merely "similar to" or "indistinguishable  
from" the sensation that one gets when there "is" a gravitational  
force to "oppose," it is IDENTICAL to that sensation because it is-- 
in EVERY quantifiable aspect--the same situation.

John Mallinckrodt

Professor of Physics, Cal Poly Pomona
<http://www.csupomona.edu/~ajm>

and

Lead Guitarist, Out-Laws of Physics
<http://outlawsofphysics.com>