Chapter 6, Problem 15P

Stunt pilots and fighter pilots who fly at high speeds in a downward-curving are may experience a “red out,” in which blood is forced upward into the flier’s head, potentially swelling or breaking capillaries in the eyes and leading to a reddening of vision and even loss of consciousness. This effect can occur at centripetal accelerations of about 2.5g’s. For a stunt plane flying at a speed of 320 km/h, what is the minimum radius of downward curve a pilot can achieve without experiencing a red out at the top of the arc? (Hint: Remember that gravity provides part of the centripetal acceleration at the top of the arc; it’s the acceleration required in excess of gravity that causes this problem.)