Question

In order to simulate weightlessness for astronauts in training, they are flown in a vertical circle. if the passengers are to experience weightlessness, how fast should an airplane be moving at the top of a vertical circle with a radius of 2.50 km

Answer 1

The answer is "156.6 m/s".

This is how we calculate this;

-N + mg = ma = mv²/r

For "weightlessness" N = 0, so

0 = mg - mv²/r 

g - v²/r = 0 

v =√( gr)
g = 9.8 and r = 2.5km = 2500 m

v = √(9.8 x 2500)

= 156.6 m/s