Physics (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1118486897
ISBN 13: 978-1-11848-689-4

Chapter 5 - Dynamics of Uniform Circular Motion - Problems - Page 139: 34

Answer

$r=261.6m$

Work Step by Step

In an artificial gravity, centripetal force $F_c$ acts as the gravitational force, normally experienced as weight on earth. In other words, $$W=F_c=\frac{mv^2}{r}$$ Here, we want the astronauts to weight $1/2$ of their earth-weight, so $W=1/2mg$ $$\frac{1}{2}mg=\frac{mv^2}{r}$$ $$\frac{g}{2}=\frac{v^2}{r}$$ $$r=\frac{2v^2}{g}$$ We have $v=35.8m/s$ and $g=9.8m/s^2$ $$r=261.6m$$
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