Help with apparent weight problem

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The discussion centers on a physics problem involving centripetal force, where an airplane pulls out of a dive in a vertical circle with a radius of 1.0 km at a speed of 550 km/h. The key question is how many times greater the apparent weight of the pilot is compared to his true weight. The problem highlights the need to calculate centripetal acceleration using the formula a_c = v^2/r and to understand the forces acting on the pilot. A hint emphasizes the importance of knowing the position in the loop, although it is not specified in the problem. The calculations suggest that the apparent weight is significantly greater than the true weight, illustrating the effects of centripetal force on the pilot.
vee123
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I need help with a physics problem ASAP please :)

I am currently in AP Physics and we are studying centripetal force. My teacher gave me a problem that is driving me crazy because I don't know where to begin with it, and I have a test tomorrow...

Here's the problem:

An airplane pulls out of a dive in a vertical circle of radius 1.0 km traveling with a speed of 550km/h. How many times greater is the apparent weight of the pilot than his true weight?

Can someone please help me?
 
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The true weight would be your weight if you were standing on the surface of the earth. This is because your weight is the normal force acting on you. If you were just standing on the surface, the normal force would oppose gravity which is the only other force acting on you. Thus, your weight would be the force of gravity, mg. In this situation, why would that be any different?
 
vee123 said:
I am currently in AP Physics and we are studying centripetal force. My teacher gave me a problem that is driving me crazy because I don't know where to begin with it.

Here's the problem:

An airplane pulls out of a dive in a vertical circle of radius 1.0 km traveling with a speed of 550km/h. How many times greater is the apparent weight of the pilot than his true weight?

Any suggestions?

Here's another hint: It's important where in the loop the plane is (does the question specify that?)
 
It doesn't specify where in the loop the plane is. I just want to know how to get through this problem. I'm so confused! :(
 
<br /> F = ma_c<br />

and

a_c = v^2/r

so the ratio between the centripetal Force and the normal weight 9.8m is

\frac{m(v^2/r)}{9.8m} = \frac{1980000000}{1000*9.8} = 19800
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

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