Centripetal motion, how to find radius?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the radius of a horizontal circular motion for an airplane flying at a speed of 620 km/h with its wings tilted at 35 degrees. The participants derive the formula for radius using centripetal acceleration and the relationship between lift force and tilt angle. The final calculation yields a radius of approximately 4321.29 meters after correcting the initial speed error. The method involves using the equation r = V²/(g tan θ), where V is the speed, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and θ is the tilt angle.

PREREQUISITES
  • Centripetal acceleration concepts
  • Understanding of lift force in aerodynamics
  • Basic trigonometry for angle calculations
  • Knowledge of gravitational acceleration (g = 9.81 m/s²)
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of centripetal acceleration formulas
  • Learn about the effects of wing tilt on lift force
  • Explore advanced aerodynamics principles related to flight dynamics
  • Investigate real-world applications of circular motion in aviation
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Aerospace engineers, physics students, and anyone interested in the principles of flight dynamics and centripetal motion calculations.

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Homework Statement


Hi guys, i need some help solving the following question.

An Airplane is flying in a Horizontal circle at speed of 620km/h. If the wings of the plane are tilted 35 degrees to the horizontal, what is the radius of the circle in which the plane is flying? Assume that the required force is provided entirely by an aerodynamic lift that is perpendicular to the wing surface.



Homework Equations






The Attempt at a Solution




I know that if i had time i could find the radius by using R = vT/2pi But i don't have that so how would i go about solving this Problem? Also what can i do with that angle?
 
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A certain amount of centripetal acceleration is required in order to keep the plane in a circle going at that speed at a certain radius. In fact, you should know how the centripetal acceleration is related to the speed and radius of the circle.

As for the angle, the lift force is what is providing the centripetal force. However, because the wing is tilted at a certain angle, and the lift force is perpendicular to it, only a certain component of the lift force will be pointing in the "centripetal" direction. You can calculate what that component is.
 
Ok thank you, so i came up with the following, is this correct?
I got the equation m(v2/R) = mgtan\theta
then i changed that to this as both masses cancel out.

r = V2/gtan35

and my answer was

4750.8m.

Is this correct?
 
I agree with your formula. My answer is less than yours by 432.8 m.
 
cepheid said:
I agree with your formula. My answer is less than yours by 432.8 m.

Oops i think i used 650km instead of 620km/h. I got this

4321.29m

Correct?
 
Seems closer. Like I said in my previous post, I got ~ 4318 m
 

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