Is an astronaut in space completely weightless? Explain your answer
No, an astronaut in space is not completely weightless. While it may seem that way since they appear to float and objects also appear to float around them, they are actually still subject to the force of gravity.
In space, astronauts are in a constant state of freefall or orbit around the Earth, which gives the illusion of weightlessness. They are essentially falling towards the Earth but also moving sideways with enough speed to continuously miss it. As a result, they experience a continuous state of falling towards the Earth, which cancels out the sensation of weight.
However, the force of gravity still acts on their bodies and objects in space, which is why their mass remains the same. They may float and move around without the constant feeling of weight, but if they were to step on a scale, it would still measure their body mass, which is influenced by the gravitational force acting on them.