Question

If you are in a spaceship that is sitting on the surface of a planet, you feel your weight. How does this compare to the weight you feel in an accelerating spacecraft?

Answer 1

Answer:

You will feel more weight if it is accelerating out of the planet.

You will feel less weight if it is accelerating towards the planet.

Explanation:

The weight that you are observing or feeling is basically due to the change in acceleration of your fall or rising up in the spaceship. When the acceleration is stationary on the surface, you experience your normal weight due to the gravitational acceleration of that planet.

When the spaceship accelerates above or out of the planet you experience acceleration more than the acceleration of gravity hence more weight.

When the spaceship accelerates towards the planet you experience acceleration less than the acceleration of gravity hence less weight.

If the spaceship is free falling at the gravitational acceleration you experience a zero weight