Question

If an sUAS weighs 50 pounds, what approximate weight would the sUAS structure be required to support during a 30 degree banked turn while maintaining altitude?

1) 60 pounds
2) 45 pounds
3) 30 pounds

Answer 1

The approximate weight that the sUAS structure would be required to support during a 30 degree banked turn while maintaining altitude is approximately 2,423.56 pounds.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to calculate the approximate weight that the sUAS structure would be required to support during a 30 degree banked turn while maintaining altitude, we need to use the concept of centripetal force. The centripetal force is the force that keeps an object moving in a circular path.

Using the formula for centripetal force, which is F = (mv^2)/r, we can plug in the given values. The mass of the sUAS is 50 pounds (which is approximately 22.68 kg), the velocity is not given but can be assumed to be the same as the airplane in the provided example (120.0 m/s), and the radius of the turn is not given but can also be assumed to be the same as the airplane (using the formula for radius of a turn, r = v^2 / (g * tan(θ)), where θ is the banking angle in radians, we can calculate the radius to be approximately 238.28 meters).

Calculating the centripetal force, we get F = (22.68 kg * 120.0 m/s)^2 / 238.28 m = 10,780.47 N. Converting this force back to pounds, we get approximately 2,423.56 pounds. Therefore, the approximate weight that the sUAS structure would be required to support during a 30 degree banked turn while maintaining altitude is approximately 2,423.56 pounds.