Question

An aerobatic airplane pilot experiences

weightlessness as she passes over the top of
a loop-the-loop maneuver.
The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s^2
If her speed is 440 m/s at this time, find the
radius of the loop.
Answer in units of km.

Answer 1

20 km

Step-by-step explanation:

Draw a free body diagram. Weightlessness means there's no normal force.

Sum of forces in the centripetal direction (-y):

∑F = ma

mg = m v² / r

g = v² / r

r = v² / g

r = (440 m/s)² / (9.8 m/s²)

r = 20,000 m

r = 20 km