Jet fighter flying in a vertical loop

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a jet fighter flying in a vertical circle with a specified diameter and speed. The original poster seeks to calculate the apparent weight of the aircraft at the bottom of the loop, noting challenges due to the absence of mass in the provided information.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the implications of not having the mass of the aircraft, with suggestions to define mass as a variable. Questions about calculating acceleration components and the relationship between apparent weight and mass are raised.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of the problem, with some participants suggesting that a diagram may aid understanding. Various interpretations of how to approach the calculation are being discussed, but no consensus has been reached regarding the method to find the apparent weight.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the challenge of solving the problem without the mass of the aircraft, which is crucial for calculating apparent weight. Participants are navigating the constraints of the problem as presented.

jstretto

Homework Statement


A jet fighter flies in a vertical circle of diameter 1000 m. The speed of the aeroplane at the bottom of this circle is 185 m s-1. For the aeroplane at this point, calculate:
Apparent weight

Homework Equations



Fc = mv^2/r
Ac = v^2/r
Fn = Fg + Fc

The Attempt at a Solution



I cannot find a single way to find the apparent weight of something without mass, it is doing my head in. I have scowered the internet and nothing. Please help me!
 
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What if you were to let M be the mass of the aircraft? What would you get? Can you work out the acceleration components?
 
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Likes   Reactions: Nidum and FactChecker
I agree with you. Unless you are given the mass, you can not calculate the "apparent weight". However, you can calculate the number of g's and you can calculate a multiplying factor, A, of whatever the weight is: apparentWeight= A*airplaneMass.
 
@jstretto : This problem does have a solution . You would find it much easier to understand the problem and get to the solution if you drew a simple diagram .
 

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