Centripetal acceleration = (speed)² / (radius)
= (6.7 m/s)² / (0.02 m)
= (44.89 m²/s²) / (0.02 m)
= (44.89 / 0.02) m/s²
= 2244.5 m/s²
= about 229 G's !
The math and physics of this solution are bullet-proof, but I have doubts
about the truth of the situation. It irritates my intuition, and causes the
seat of my pants to tingle.
-- I doubt that the delicate structure of a honey bee could endure 229 G's
of centripetal acceleration.
-- The setup says that the bee is flying at 6.7 m/s on a circular path with
a radius of 2 cm. That's 15 mph around a circle that's only about 1.6 inches
across ... or 53.3 times around the circle every second !
The calculation is correctly done, but I don't trust the given information.
I simply played the cards I was dealt.
