Why do we float in space and not stay in a place?

Physics - a body in motion stays in motion until an equal and opposite force pushes against it. ie. an astronaut pushes off the floor and continues through the air until something stops him, if something was thrown at him at the exact opposite angle from which he pushed off, with the exact amount of force, he would stop in mid-air and hang, motionless. ... a bit like pool balls when you hit them into each other.

Physics - a body in motion stays in motion until an equal and opposite force pushes against it. ie. an astronaut pushes off the floor and continues through the air until something stops him, if something was thrown at him at the exact opposite angle from which he pushed off, with the exact amount of force, he would stop in mid-air and hang, motionless. ... a bit like pool balls when you hit them into each other.

First off, it is not true that there is "no gravity" in space. Astronauts in orbit are affected by gravitational forces that are roughly equal to those on the Earth's surface. The catch is that they are moving horizontally as well, such that they will never fall to the surface, and so are in constant freefall. This is why they feel weightless (the spaceship falls at the same rate, and so they float). Now, to answer your question, it's very hard to set it up so that you have absolutely no net force relative to the spaceship. You will probably have pushed on something, and started moving. With nothing to stop you, you will continue to float. Also, fluctuations in air currents and similar effects inside a spaceship are enough to get things moving.

Well, the situation is not exactly zero gravity, the magnitude is really small but gravity definitely is there, you can call it micro gravity. If there was no gravity in space, an orbit would not be possible. The gravity is reduced to such an extent that a small push can make you float, (on the earths surface you have to push hard to jump higher). The situation is comparable.

Well, the situation is not exactly zero gravity, the magnitude is really small but gravity definitely is there, you can call it micro gravity. If there was no gravity in space, an orbit would not be possible. The gravity is reduced to such an extent that a small push can make you float, (on the earths surface you have to push hard to jump higher). The situation is comparable.

They float because as you note, there is no gravity to cause them to move toward any object. They are really moving at the same speed and direction of the reference object - the space ship. That makes them appear to float. When a spaceship is orbiting the earth, it is actually falling. But its forward speed is so great that it can't fall fast enough to fall to earth. If you could throw a ball horizontally a little above ground level, and throw it fast enough to overcome gravity and air resistance, it could orbit the earth.

The reasons why not include Momentum Air currents Microgravity Momentum: It is very difficult for an astronaut to position himself in mid-air in his craft with PRECISELY zero momentum. He is almost bound to be moving relative to the craft, even if only very slightly. Air currents: within the spacecraft there is normally air, which is constantly being processed and renewed, and there may be other reasons (e.g. equipment fans) why the air is moving. There are draughts! These will carry the astronaut with them. Microgravity: There is a misunderstanding of microgravity in at least one earlier answer. In principle, the astronaut and the spacecraft are all in the same orbit and all in free fall - ALMOST. But not quite. In reality, some parts of the craft will be closer to the earth than others. The floor (if the craft is the right way up) will be closer than the cieling. Hence gravity will be stronger at the floor than at the cieling. The floor will be 'trying' to orbit faster than the clieling - but it can't because the craft is sufficiently rigid. But when the astronaut is fl'oating, he isn't attached. He can take up an independent orbit - which may be slightly different from that of the craft, depending on precisely where their respective centres of gravity are.

idk what makes them float but remember how fast the spaceship is traveling to be able to remain in orbit.

Space-ships are, basically, always in free fall.