Col. John Stapp led the U .S . Air Force Aero Medical Laboratory's research into the effects of higher accelerations. On Stapp's final sled run, the sled reached a speed of 284.4 m/s (632 mi/h ) and then stopped with the aid of water brakes in 1.4 s . Stapp was barely conscious and lost his vision for several days but recovered.
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Col. John Stapp's final sled run was conducted to study the effects of higher accelerations on the human body. During this experiment, the sled reached a speed of 284.4 m/s (632 mi/h) and then came to a stop using water brakes in just 1.4 seconds. As a result of the extreme deceleration, Stapp experienced severe physical and physiological effects.
To better understand how this information was obtained, let's break down the process:
1. Experimental Setup: The U.S. Air Force Aero Medical Laboratory conducted the research, likely with a specially designed sled or vehicle. The vehicle's initial velocity, final velocity, and deceleration can be determined from the experimental setup.
2. Calculation of Acceleration: Since Stapp's sled came to a stop, we can assume that the final velocity is 0 m/s. The initial velocity (v0) is given as 284.4 m/s. Using the formula for average acceleration (acceleration = (final velocity - initial velocity) / time), we can calculate the average acceleration experienced during the sled run.
3. Calculation of Deceleration: Since the acceleration was negative (deceleration), we can determine the magnitude of deceleration by taking the absolute value. So, the deceleration will be equal to the calculated acceleration in step 2.
4. Calculation of Time: The time taken to come to a stop is given as 1.4 seconds.
With these calculations and measurements, we can now analyze the effects experienced by Col. John Stapp. The high deceleration caused by the rapid stoppage of the sled resulted in severe physical trauma. Stapp lost consciousness and his vision for several days. However, it is mentioned that he eventually recovered.
It's important to note that the study conducted by Col. John Stapp and the U.S. Air Force Aero Medical Laboratory contributed significantly to our understanding of how extreme accelerations affect the human body.