Question

Dr. John Paul Stapp was a U.S. Air Force officer who studied the effects of extreme acceleration on the human body. On December 10, 1954, Stapp rode a rocket sled, accelerating from rest to a top speed of 282 m/s (1015 km/h) in 5.2 s and was brought jarringly back to rest in only 1 s. Calculate his (a) magnitude of acceleration in his direction of motion and (b) magnitude of acceleration opposite to his direction of motion. Express each in multiples of g (9.80 m/s2) by taking its ratio to the acceleration of gravity. g g

Answer 1

Answer:

    a = 5.53 g ,   a = -15g

Explanation:

This is an exercise in kinematics.

a) Let's look for the acceleration

         as part of rest v₀ = 0

          v = v₀ + a t

           a = v / t

           a = 282 / 5.2

          a = 54.23 m / s²

in relation to the acceleration of gravity

          a / g = 54.23 / 9.8

          a = 5.53 g

b) let's look at the acceleration to stop

         va = 0

         0 = v₀ -2 a y

         a = vi / y

         a = 282/2 1

         a = 141 m /s²

         a / G = 141 / 9.8

          a = -15g