The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) studies the physiologic
ID: 1551675 • Letter: T
Question
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) studies the physiological effects of large accelerations on astronauts. Some of these studies use a machine known as a centrifuge. This machine consists of a long arm, to one end of which is attached a chamber in which the astronaut sits. The other end of the arm is connected to an axis about which the arm and chamber can be rotated. The astronaut moves on a circular path, much like a model airplane flying in a circle on a guideline. The chamber is located 15 m from the center of the circle. At what speed must the chamber move so that an astronaut is subjected to 8.1 times the acceleration due to gravity?
Explanation / Answer
The astronaut in the chamber is subjected to a centripetal acceleration ac that
is given by
a_c= v^2/r
v= sqrt a_cr
= sqrt ( 8.1(9.8) ( 15)
=34.5 m/s
=