Why do the passengers in high-altitude jet planes feel the sensation of weight while passengers in the International Space Station do not?
Passengers in high-altitude jet planes feel the sensation of weight because they are still within the Earth's atmosphere, where the force of gravity is present. However, passengers in the International Space Station do not feel the sensation of weight because they are in a state of free-fall, also known as microgravity.
To understand why this happens, we need to explore the concept of gravity. Gravity is the force that attracts masses towards each other. On Earth, the force of gravity pulls everything towards the center of the planet. When we stand on the ground, we feel the sensation of weight because we are being pushed towards the Earth's surface by gravity.
In a high-altitude jet plane, although the aircraft is flying at a higher altitude, it is still within the Earth's atmosphere. The plane is subjected to gravitational force, and as a result, the passengers within it also experience the force of gravity. The plane stays airborne because of the balance between the upward lift force provided by the wings and the downward pull of gravity.
On the other hand, the International Space Station (ISS) orbits around the Earth at an altitude of around 400 kilometers. At this altitude, the ISS remains outside the Earth's atmosphere, essentially in a vacuum. Since there is no air resistance or other forces opposing it, the ISS is in a state of constant free-fall towards Earth. This free-falling motion creates a feeling of weightlessness for those on board. In a microgravity environment, objects and people inside the space station experience the sensation of floating because they are essentially falling at the same rate as the station.
To summarize, the passengers in high-altitude jet planes feel the sensation of weight because they are still within the Earth's atmosphere and subject to the force of gravity. Conversely, the passengers in the International Space Station do not experience weight because they are in a state of free-fall, resulting in a feeling of weightlessness.