Can Humans Survive Acceleration from 100 to 7000 mph in Seconds?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the feasibility of human survival during rapid acceleration from 100 to 7000 mph within a very short time frame, specifically 5 to 10 seconds. Participants explore the physical limits of human tolerance to acceleration, the role of forces applied to the body, and relevant historical examples.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the possibility of surviving such acceleration and asks for technical problems that might arise, noting the extreme G-forces involved.
  • Another participant references rocket sled experiments and a specific case of an SR-71 pilot who survived a breakup at Mach 3, suggesting that the manner in which forces are applied is crucial to survival.
  • Discussion includes the potential for pilots to withstand 9-g accelerations with special suits and training, but the duration of such tolerances is uncertain.
  • A calculation is provided estimating that accelerating from 100 to 7000 mph at 9g would take approximately 35 seconds, highlighting the relationship between acceleration, time, and distance.
  • Concerns are raised about the distinction between surviving acceleration and the risk of blacking out, emphasizing the importance of body position and direction of forces.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the limits of human tolerance to acceleration, with no consensus on whether survival is possible under the specified conditions. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact thresholds and factors influencing survival.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on specific conditions such as body position, the application of forces, and the lack of definitive data on maximum tolerable accelerations for humans in extreme scenarios.

Dr Von Braun
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Hi, all. I'm trying to ascertain whether it is remotely possible for a human being to survive acceleration from 100 to 7000 mph (essentially, from 0 to Mach 10) in say 5 seconds? 10 even? Assume the mass that of an ordinary man, and perhaps a co-pilot, the vehicle probably a prototype of modern stealth. I think not. And, if this be so, what technical problems stand in the way? (Assume vertical or horizontal acceleration at sea level.) I don't know how many Gs this would produce, but the record seems to be 46. And that bloke wasn't even flying (well, almost) at Mach-1.

I am not a technical person, just doing some research for a book, so please excuse me. Any irrelevance is not meant as irreverence.

Cheers,

VB
 
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Aside of the rocket sled experiments that you probablly know about, there was a sr-71 pilot who survived a plane breakup at mach3. Not sure what the acell. due to air resistance was there.

The key factor here is not how much acceleration the body expieriences, but how evenly the forces are applied to the body. If you put a human into an indestructible water tank, he will survive much greater accelerations. So it is difficult to name a definitive limit.
 
With special suits and training, pilots can withstand 9-g accelerations, but I am unable to say for what duration.

If you wanted to accelerate from 100 to 7000 mph at 9g acceleration, it would take approx. 35 sec. to do so.

delta V = 7000 - 100 = 6900 mi/hr * 5280 ft/mi / 3600 s/hr = 10,120 ft/s

delta t = 10120 / (9*32.2) = 34.92 s
 
SteamKing, the limits you mention are for not blacking out, not mere surviving. Also, the direction relative to your body and body position play a role here.
 

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