Zero-G Planes

What is a zero
gravity plane?
A zero gravity plane is basically a modified
jet or plane that flies in a parabolic arc, just
like a rollercoaster, to achieve simulated
weightlessness.
How does zero gravity
flight work?
Phase A: The car travels horizontally at a constant speed, which
causes normal force that is pushing up against the cars tires holds
the car up. The car is moving steadily, so objects inside the car feels
normal weight.
Phase B: The car is moving up the ramp. The car is forces upwards
against gravity, which changes its direction of motion from horizontal
to diagonal-upward, causing objects to feel greater-than-normal
gravity, or Gs of force. If the curve of the ramp is tighter, the G-force
would be greater because it will move upwards steeper.
Phase C: The car flies freely, without any external contact forces
acting on it, except for drag. Correspondingly, the objects are
weightless during this part of the ride.
Phase D: The car falls to the ramp. Conversely to the first ramp, the
car is forced upward against its downward path, changing its
direction from diagonal-downward to horizontal, causing objects
inside the car to feel more G-force.
Phase E: Just like phase A, the car travels horizontally at a constant
speed. The normal force of the road to the car holds the car up and
objects will feel normal weight.
Weightlessness in Planes
Phase A: The airplane travels horizontally at a constant speed. The force of
lift holds up the plane. The plane is moving steadily, so objects inside the
plane feels normal weight.
Phase B: The pilot pulls the control stick towards his body, so the plane will
move upwards at 45 degrees against gravity. Lift pushes the plane up, just
like the car and the ramp in the previous slide. This change in direction from
horizontal to diagonal-upward, causes the passengers to feel 1.8 times the
normal G-force.
Phase C: The plane flies freely, without any external contact forces acting
on it, except for drag. To cancel the drag, the pilot must keep the engine
running at the exact level. During this phase, objects are weightless.
Phase D: The pilot pulls back on the control stick, forcing the airplane
upward against its downward path. The lift against the wings pushes up the
airplane from its downward path, just like the ramp from previous slides.
This changes the direction of motion causes objects to feel 1.8 times the
normal G-force.
Phase E: The airplane travels horizontally at a constant speed, just like
phase A. The force of lift on the wings holds up the airplane and the
passengers feel normal weight.
But why do passengers feel weightless
when the same horizontal path?
During phase A, the motion of the airplane is steady and
unchanging. In the middle of phase C, the direction of
travel is changing before the airplane it traveling upward,
then level, then downward; it is following the path of a
freely falling cannon ball. Freely falling objects don't travel
in a straight horizontal line.
Identifying Forces
Lift
Thrust
Gravity
Drag
Effects on humans
Long exposure to weightlessness has negative affects on a person because
humans are well-adapted to the Earth, but having less of the normal
gravitational force would affect the human health. The negative effects are:
Muscle atrophy
Osteoporosis
Nausea and vomiting
Vertigo
Headaches
Lethargy
Malaise

The End
That wraps it up, any
questions?