MadSci Network: Physics |
If a wooden rocket-shaped craft weighing 5000kg and moving at 10,000 m/s crossed an imaginary line and suddenly find outself in a huge bubble of ordinary air at standard temperature and pressure and sea-level density, what would happen to the occupant of such a craft? (I imagine the craft would break up, and all the pieces including the passenger would begin to decelerate). But what would the forces be, and would it be survivable for the passenger? (Assume she's wearing thick clothing and a hooded jacket so her skin isn't stripped from the bones by teh hypersonic wind.) I know it's an impractical, odd request, but it's kind of a neat puzzle that I'm not equipped to solve. Robin
Re: What would happen to an object/person hitting atmosphere suddenly at speed?
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