What Acceleration Did Colonel John P. Stapp Experience When Stopping?

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SUMMARY

Colonel John P. Stapp experienced an acceleration of approximately -1239.06 g units when stopping from a speed of 1020 km/h in 1.4 seconds during his rocket-propelled sled test in March 1954. The correct calculation involves converting the initial speed from kilometers per hour to meters per second before applying the constant acceleration equation v = v(0) + at. The discussion highlights the importance of unit conversion and the extreme nature of the acceleration experienced, which exceeds human survivability limits.

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  • Understanding of constant acceleration equations
  • Knowledge of unit conversion from kilometers per hour to meters per second
  • Familiarity with the concept of g units (1 g = 9.8 m/s²)
  • Basic physics principles related to motion and acceleration
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  • Learn how to convert speed units from km/h to m/s accurately
  • Study the implications of high acceleration on human physiology
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  • Investigate historical experiments in high-speed deceleration, such as those conducted by Colonel Stapp
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Physics students, educators, and anyone interested in the effects of extreme acceleration on the human body, as well as those studying historical scientific experiments in motion and safety.

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Homework Statement



A world's land speed record was set by Colonel John P. Stapp when in March 1954 he rode a rocket-propelled sled that moved along a track at 1020 km/h. He and the sled were brought to a stop in 1.4 s. In g units, what acceleration did he experience while stopping?

Homework Equations


I think I am supposed to use the constant acceleration equation
v = v(0) + at

1 g unit = 9.8m/s^2


The Attempt at a Solution


You only get two attempts to get it right. My first attempt was 1239.06 g units but it was wrong. My second time around i got -1239.06 g units but i was just wondering if anyone could double check it. Thanks in advance.
 
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i'll try this Q...nah, can't get the ans, it is too hard sry because i oso g 1239.06g
 
kaisxuans said:
i'll try this Q...nah, can't get the ans, it is too hard sry because i oso g 1239.06g

Why are you responding to questions you can't answer? In txt? mpgriffis, convert km/hr to m/sec before you divide by g and time. Carefully. Humans surviving more than a few tens of g's for more than a fraction of a second is unheard of. I have no clue how either one of you got 1238.06g.
 
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