Calculating Load on Pilot in Horizontal Curve Flight

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the load experienced by a pilot in an airplane flying through a horizontal curve, given specific parameters such as speed and radius of the curve. The subject area pertains to dynamics and forces in circular motion.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the components of forces acting on the pilot, including centripetal force and gravitational force. There are questions about the correct formulas to use and how to combine these forces to find the total load.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the forces involved. Some have suggested vector addition of the forces, while others express confusion regarding the concepts and calculations. There is no explicit consensus on the correct approach or solution yet.

Contextual Notes

Participants are grappling with the definitions and relationships between the forces acting on the pilot, including the need to consider both horizontal and vertical components. There is mention of a specific expected result, but the calculations leading to that result are under scrutiny.

Miri
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Homework Statement


An airplane flies through a horizontal curve at a speed of 250km/h (69.44m/s). Radius=0.7km or 700m
Find the load of the pilot on the seat if her mass is 67kg.


Homework Equations


centripetal acceleration=v^2/r
and then the solution times the mass of the pilot, but this gives me the wrong result. The result should be 0.80kN
 
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You've got the horizontal component of the force the captain exerts on the seat because of the rotation. There is also a vertical component of force due to the captains weight. I think you are supposed to add those two vectors and find the total magnitude of the force.
 
I don't get what you mean...Can you tell me the formulas which I have to use? What do you mean by the two components? The first one is the mass and the second one the radius or what? Thanks
 
When the car takes a turn you are thrown in the outward direction due to centrifugal force. Its magnitude is mv^2/r. Similarly the pilot experiences the centrifugal force which is horizontal and away from the center of the curved path. The weight of the pilot mg acts in the downward direction. The resultant of these two forces will be total load of the pilot on the seat.
 
so you mean that mv^2/r + mg=0.80kN ? But that's wrong...i'm sorry, but I just don't get it...
 
Miri said:
so you mean that mv^2/r + mg=0.80kN ? But that's wrong...i'm sorry, but I just don't get it...

mv^2/r and mg are perpendicular to each other. Therefore resultant force = sqrt[ (mv^2/r)^2 + (mg)^2]^1/2
 

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