How does zero gravity planes work?

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explain please.

In: Physics

3 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

They fly in a parabolic arc and you only feel weightless due to them matching the ballistic arc you would follow if you are falling.

Anonymous 0 Comments

As a visual example: cut a piece of string or tissue (anything light and flexible) and attach to a ball with tape. Toss the ball up in the air. Notice that when the ball reaches its highest point, the string/tissue will look like they’re kinda hovering alongside it rather than hanging down like before you tossed the ball.

The ball is the plane, the string/tissue represents passengers.

Anonymous 0 Comments

The planes aren’t actually creating zero-g, which is impossible, they’re just simulating the effect of weightlessness by causing the people inside to be in free fall, which is the same reason astronauts in space experience weightlessness. The plane performs what’s called a [parabolic arc](https://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42862000/gif/_42862923_parabolic_flight416.gif). This is when the plane pitches up in a steep climb, levels out, and them dives down at the same angle. As the plane levels off and dives down again, it enters a ballistic trajectory, and the passengers (and everything else inside) will be weightless for 20-30 seconds.