8. Centripetal Forces & Gravitation
Banked Curves
3PRACTICE PROBLEM
A spacecraft is on a mission to explore Mars. When the spacecraft entered the Martian atmosphere, the commander made a balanced turn by tilting the spacecraft wings at an angle α to the horizontal. The commander maintained the center of gravity of the spacecraft in a horizontal plane. The speed Vs of the spacecraft was constant, and the spacecraft moved in a circle of radius Rs. Calculate the tilting angle α using Vs, Mars' gravitational acceleration g, and Rs. Note that the lift force is directed perpendicular to the wings and in the opposite direction of gravity.
A spacecraft is on a mission to explore Mars. When the spacecraft entered the Martian atmosphere, the commander made a balanced turn by tilting the spacecraft wings at an angle α to the horizontal. The commander maintained the center of gravity of the spacecraft in a horizontal plane. The speed Vs of the spacecraft was constant, and the spacecraft moved in a circle of radius Rs. Calculate the tilting angle α using Vs, Mars' gravitational acceleration g, and Rs. Note that the lift force is directed perpendicular to the wings and in the opposite direction of gravity.