Question

In civil aviation, a "standard turn" for level flight of a propeller-driven airplane is one in which the airplane makes a complete circular turn in 2.0 minutes. (a) If the plane's speed is 180 m/s, what is the radius of the circle? (b) What is the centripetal acceleration of the plane? (c) If the pilot has a mass of 75 kg, what is the centripetal force on the pilot while making the turn?

Answer 1

Time taken by the plane to make a complete circular turn = T = 2 min = 2 x (60) sec = 120 sec

Speed of the plane = V = 180 m/s

Radius of the circle = R

R = 3438 m

Centripetal acceleration of the plane = a_c

a_c = 9.424 m/s²

Mass of the pilot = m = 75 kg

Centripetal force on the pilot while making the turn = F_c

The centripetal acceleration of the pilot will be the same as that of the plane therefore,

F_c = 706.8 N

a) Radius of the circle = 3438 m

b) Centripetal acceleration of the plane = 9.424 m/s²

c) Centripetal force on the pilot while making the turn = 706.8 N