Constant Acceleration; Dynamics

In summary, The problem is to calculate the constant acceleration in g's needed for an aircraft carrier's catapult to produce a launch velocity of 188 mi/hr in a distance of 299 ft while at anchor. The equation V^2 = 2AD is used to solve this, and after converting units, the answer is 312,226.1484 mi/hr^2. However, the conversion from mi/h² to ft/s² is incorrect, resulting in a much larger answer.
  • #1
allyfranken
4
0

Homework Statement



Problem: Calculate the constant acceleration a in g’s which the catapult of an aircraft carrier must provide to produce a launch velocity of 188 mi/hr in a distance of 299 ft. Assume that the carrier is at anchor.

Homework Equations



V^2 = 2AD

The Attempt at a Solution



Okay so I got an answer of 14232.9518 G's. This seems far too large.
I converted feet to miles first and got 35344 mi^2/hr^2 = 2A(.0566) solving for A I got A = 312,226.1484 mi/hr^2 then converted to G's. What am I doing wrong here?
 
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  • #2
The problem lies in your conversion from mi/h² to ft/s². They are 3600 seconds in an hour and you have to square it.
 

Related to Constant Acceleration; Dynamics

1. What is constant acceleration?

Constant acceleration refers to a situation where an object's speed increases or decreases by the same amount over a certain period of time. This means that the object is experiencing a constant change in velocity, either in a positive or negative direction.

2. How is constant acceleration different from uniform motion?

Uniform motion refers to a situation where an object's speed remains constant over time. This means that the object is not experiencing any change in velocity. In contrast, constant acceleration involves a changing velocity and therefore, is not considered uniform motion.

3. What is the formula for calculating constant acceleration?

The formula for calculating constant acceleration is a = (v - u) / t, where a is the acceleration, v is the final velocity, u is the initial velocity, and t is the time interval.

4. How does constant acceleration affect an object's motion?

Constant acceleration can greatly impact an object's motion. If the acceleration is constant in a positive direction, the object will experience a continuously increasing velocity. If the acceleration is constant in a negative direction, the object will experience a continuously decreasing velocity. This can result in a change in position, direction, or both.

5. What are some real-life examples of constant acceleration?

Some real-life examples of constant acceleration include a car accelerating or decelerating on a straight road, a rollercoaster going up or down a hill, a ball rolling down a ramp, and a rocket launching into space. In all of these cases, the object experiences a constant change in velocity over a period of time.

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