Question

a rocket takes off from Earth's surface accelerating straight up at 47.2 miles per second calculate the normal force( in N) acting on an astronaut of mass 88.9 kg, including her space suit. ( assume the rocket initial motion parallel to the +y- direction. Indicate the direction with the sign of your answer.) ​

Answer 1

By Newton's second law, the forces acting on the astronaut (the normal force n of the rocket pushing up on the astronaut, and her weight mg pulling her downward) have a net effect of

n - mg = ma

where

m = 88.9 kg

g = 9.80 m/s²

a = 47.2 mi/s² ≈ 75,960 m/s²

Then

n = m (g + a) ≈ 6.75 × 10⁶ N