Chapter 7, Problem 57A

To determine

To discuss: Meaning of force of $5g$ during space flight.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The force is given as,

  $F=ma$

Where, $m$ is mass and $a$ is acceleration.

This means that any object having mass and acceleration must feel a force acting on it.

In case of earth, it has gravitational acceleration $g$ .

So an object will feel a force which is called as weight of the object on the earth.

It is given as,

  $F_g=mg$

During space flight, five times of earth’s gravity ‘ $5g$ ’ means the acceleration is five times of the gravitational acceleration of earth.

So a force equal to five times of force on the Earth will be exerted on the astronaut.

That is,

  $\begin{array}{c}{F}_g\text{'}=m\left(5g\right)\\ =5\times mg\\ =5F_g\end{array}$

Thus, the astronaut will feel his weight five times heavier than it is on the Earth.