The weight of an object is a measure of the force exerted on it by a gravitational field. In space, where there is a lack of significant gravitational fields, the weight of an object can be effectively zero. This concept is often misunderstood, so let's clarify it.
The force of gravity experienced by an object is determined by the mass of the object and the strength of the gravitational field it is in. On Earth, for example, objects experience a gravitational force due to the Earth's mass. This force is commonly referred to as weight.
In space, however, far away from any significant gravitational sources like planets or stars, the gravitational field is extremely weak or practically negligible. As a result, the force of gravity acting on an object in space is essentially zero. In this context, we say that the weight of the object is zero.
It's important to note that the mass of the object itself has not changed. Mass is a fundamental property of matter and remains the same regardless of the presence or absence of a gravitational field. The weight, on the other hand, depends on the mass and the strength of the gravitational field.
In summary, in the absence of a significant gravitational field, such as in space, the weight of an object is effectively zero because there is no force of gravity acting on it. However, the mass of the object remains the same.