Problem # 2.

3
During take off in a spaceship, an 80 kg astronaut is subjected to an acceleration equal to 5 times
the pull of the earths standard gravity. If the take off is vertical, what force does he exert on the
seat?
Given:

Figure:

m = 80 kg
Takeof

g = 9.8

N
kg

Reqd: Force

Fs = w + a

Weight of astronaut

Solve for w:
w=mg
w = (80 kg) (9.8

N
)
kg

w = 784 N
Solve for a:
a=mg5
a = (80 kg) (9.8

N
) (5)
kg

a = 3920 N

Solve for Fs :
Sub's: w = 784 N; a = 3920 N
Fs = w + a
Fs = 784 + 3920
Fs = 4704 N