A Pilot Can Withstand Ten Times The Acceleration Due To Grav

A Pilot Can Withstand Ten Times The Acceleration Due To Gravity 10 G

A pilot can withstand ten times the acceleration due to gravity, 10 g’s, if he is wearing a special tight-fitting g-suit designed to keep the blood from rushing to his brain. An 85-kg pilot who is traveling east at 900 km/hr decides he wants to go west. He makes a circle with 10 g’s of acceleration.

a. What is the radius of the smallest circle in which the plane can turn around?

b. How much centripetal force acts on the pilot while he is in the turn?

Paper For Above instruction

The problem provided involves understanding the physics behind centripetal acceleration, force, and motion of an aircraft and its pilot subjected to high G-forces. The goal is to determine the minimum radius of a turn that produces a 10 G acceleration and to calculate the corresponding centripetal force acting on the pilot during this maneuver.

Introduction

High-performance aircraft maneuvers subject pilots to significant G-forces, which pose physiological and mechanical challenges. When a pilot performs a tight turn, the aircraft undergoes centripetal acceleration, which correlates directly with the turn radius and velocity. The ability of a pilot to withstand these forces depends on multiple factors, including their mass, the G-force experienced, and their physiological adaptations such as G-suits. This paper explores the physics of such high G-force maneuvers, focusing on the specific case of an 85-kg pilot flying at a velocity of 900 km/hr and experiencing a 10 G acceleration.

Conversion of Units and Initial Parameters

Firstly, we need to handle unit conversions to maintain consistency with SI units. The velocity of the aircraft is given as 900 km/hr. Converting this to meters per second:

\[

v = 900\, \text{km/hr} \times \frac{1000\, \text{m}}{1\, \text{km}} \times \frac{1\, \text{hr}}{3600\, \text{s}} = 250\, \text{m/s}

\]

The acceleration due to gravity, \( g \), is:

\[

g = 9.80\, \text{m/s}^2

\]

The problem states the pilot can withstand 10 G’s, which means the maximum permissible acceleration \( a \) is:

\[

a = 10 \times g = 10 \times 9.80 = 98\, \text{m/s}^2

\]

Calculating the Minimum Radius of Turn

The centripetal acceleration (\( a_c \)) is related to the velocity (\( v \)) and radius (\( r \)) by:

\[

a_c = \frac{v^2}{r}

\]

Rearranged to solve for \( r \):

\[

r = \frac{v^2}{a_c}

\]

Using the known values:

\[

r = \frac{(250)^2}{98} = \frac{62500}{98} \approx 637.76\, \text{m}

\]

Hence, the smallest radius of the turn that the plane can execute without exceeding 10 G’s is approximately 638 meters.

Calculating the Centripetal Force

The centripetal force (\( F_c \)) acting on the pilot is given by:

\[

F_c = m \times a_c

\]

Where:

- \( m = 85\, \text{kg} \)

- \( a_c = 98\, \text{m/s}^2 \)

Calculating:

\[

F_c = 85 \times 98 = 8,330\, \text{N}

\]

Therefore, the centripetal force acting on the pilot during this maneuver is 8,330 Newtons.

Discussion

Understanding the relationship between turning radius, velocity, and G-force is critical in aerospace engineering, especially when designing aircraft and G-suits capable of safely handling extreme conditions. Ensuring pilots are within safe G-force limits minimizes the risk of G-LOC (G-force-induced Loss Of Consciousness). The calculated minimum turn radius of approximately 638 meters demonstrates how tight turns at high speeds impose substantial physical forces, necessitating specialized suits and physiological conditioning.

Conclusion

In summary, for an 85-kg pilot traveling at 900 km/hr, to maintain a maximum of 10 G acceleration without exceeding physiological limits, the aircraft must turn with a minimum radius of about 638 meters. During such a maneuver, the pilot experiences a centripetal force of approximately 8,330 Newtons. These physics principles underpin high-performance flight operations and are essential for design and safety considerations in aerospace contexts.

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