Simple g Force questions (1 Viewer)

wb47

Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2011
Messages
86
Gender
Male
HSC
2011
A rocket accelerates upwards from the surface of the earth at 3ms^-2
An astronaut of mass 80kg is strapped on to a seat in the rocket.

a) What is the upwards force exerted by the chair on the astronaut?

F = ma
F = 80 x 3 = 240N

c) What is the resultant force acting on the astronaut?

F = X - mg
F = 1024 (worked out in part b) - 80 x 9.8 = 240N

I think I'm wrong could someone correct me please?

Thank You.
 

romesh

Master of the Universe
Joined
Nov 10, 2004
Messages
26
Location
Sydney
Gender
Male
HSC
2006
This is a strange question- I don't understand why the resulting force acting on the astronaut is different to the upwards force exerted by the chair. Why? Because when the rocket is sitting on the ground, the chair is already exerting an upwards force of mg (reaction force of gravity). So the upwards force exerted by the chair when the rocket is accelerating would be mg + ma with a = 3. This would be why the astronaut feels a g-force > 1. That would be 1024N- so what was the question in part b?
 

wb47

Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2011
Messages
86
Gender
Male
HSC
2011
part b was determine the apparent weight which i calculated to be 1024 N (mg + ma)

thanks
 

jamesfirst

Active Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2010
Messages
2,020
Gender
Male
HSC
2011
Im guessing bcos weight force will counteract the exerted forcr is the reason why resultant will be diff
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top