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.)
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Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN
rtarara@saintmarys.edu
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Free Physics Software
PC & Mac
www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/software.html
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