Centripital Acceleration/G-Force question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Schmidget
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a pilot experiencing centripetal acceleration during a dive in a plane, quantified as 7.50 times the acceleration due to gravity. The pilot's mass is given, and there is a question regarding the force felt by the pilot.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the force using the formula F=ma but questions the correctness of their result based on feedback from an online checker. Some participants discuss the concept of centrifugal acceleration and its relation to centripetal acceleration, suggesting that the total acceleration should be considered.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring different interpretations of the forces acting on the pilot, with some providing insights into the relationship between centripetal and centrifugal acceleration. There is an acknowledgment of confusion and a recognition of the need to clarify the forces involved.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the pilot's experience of forces inside the plane and the potential for misunderstanding the effects of acceleration in a non-inertial reference frame. The discussion reflects on the implications of Newton's second law in this context.

Schmidget
Messages
2
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A plane is in a dive. At the bottom of the dive is the maximum acceleration on the pilot. This part of the dive can be approximated by a circular path. If the centripetal acceleration on the pilot is 7.50 times g (=9.81 m/s2), what is the force felt by the pilot if her mass is 49.0 kg.


Homework Equations



Is it this simple?

F=ma


The Attempt at a Solution



F = (49kg)*(7.5*9.8m/s^2) = 3601.5N

According to the online answer checker, it's not correct. I guess I'm missing something. Any ideas?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Inside the plane the pilot will experience centrifugal acceleration which is opposite to the centripetal acceleration. So the total acceleration on the pilot will be 7.5g + g.
 
Of course! Now I feel kinda stupid. At one point in my thinking, I remember contemplating that, but for some reason it got lost. Oh well; you win some, you lose some.

Thanks for your help.
 
rl.bhat said:
Inside the plane the pilot will experience centrifugal acceleration which is opposite to the centripetal acceleration. So the total acceleration on the pilot will be 7.5g + g.

BS:mad:
(Although as Einstein noted, the acceleration of a free object
relative to the cockpit would indeed be 8.5g)

Amelia Ehrhart's acceleration is 7.5g upwards.
Gravity exerts a force mg downwards.
Applying Newton's second Law, the force exerted on
her backside is mg + 7.5mg straight up.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

Finding proper value for centripetal acceleration in a plane rising up
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
1K
How fast should the Earth spin for centripital accel. to equal gravity?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Vertical Circles Centripetal Acceleration
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Maximum Acceleration of sliding crates
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
with this tension problem -- Mass on an accelerating cable
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
What Are the Unknown Variables in a Circular Arc Pilot Dynamics Problem?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
6K
How Does Friction Impact Bobsled Acceleration?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Newton's Third Law: Acceleration of box and worker
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K
Airplane pilot in a dive, net force, minimum speed, and normal force.
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Question about vertical centripital force
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K