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 1770 m?

Answer 1

You want the centripetal force F_c to be exactly equal to the gravitational force. Now
\[ F_c = m \frac{v^2}{r} \]

Set that equal to the gravitational force and solve for \( v \).