Question

An aircraft executes a horizontal loop of radius $1\text{km}$ with a steady speed of $900{\text{kmh}}^{-1}$. Find its centripetal acceleration.

• A. $62.5{\text{m/s}}^2$
• B. $30{\text{m/s}}^2$
• C. $32.5{\text{m/s}}^2$
• D. $72.5{\text{m/s}}^2$

Answer 1

The correct option is A $62.5{\text{m/s}}^2$

Let $a_c$ be the centripetal acceleration,
'$v$' be the speed and '$r$' be the radius of the circle
$r=1\text{km}=1000\text{m}$ and
$v=900\text{km/h}=900\times \frac{5}{18}=250\text{m/s}$

We know that
$a_c=\frac{v^2}{r}=\frac{(250{)}^2}{1000}=62.5{\text{m/s}}^2$

Hence option A is the correct answer