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A helicopter that weighs 22,807 N exerts 46,196 N of upward thrust force. Ignoring air resistance, calculate its acceleration. (hint: calculate the mass first then set up the net force equation)

User RedPanda
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Final answer:

To find the helicopter's acceleration, first calculate its mass by dividing the weight by gravity (22,807 N / 9.81 m/s²), resulting in approximately 2324 kg. The net force is the difference between the thrust and weight (46,196 N - 22,807 N), giving 23,389 N. The acceleration is then the net force divided by mass (23,389 N / 2324 kg), approximately 10.06 m/s².

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the acceleration of a helicopter that weighs 22,807 N and exerts an upward thrust force of 46,196 N, we first determine the mass of the helicopter using the gravitational force equation (weight = mass × gravity), with gravity being approximately 9.81 m/s². The mass (m) is calculated as:

m = weight / gravity

m = 22,807 N / 9.81 m/s²

m ≈ 2324 kg

Next, the net force (Fnet) acting on the helicopter is the difference between the upward thrust and the weight:

Fnet = thrust - weight

Fnet = 46,196 N - 22,807 N

Fnet = 23,389 N

Finally, we use Netwon's second law (F = ma) to find the acceleration (a):

a = Fnet / m

a = 23,389 N / 2324 kg

a ≈ 10.06 m/s²

The helicopter's acceleration is approximately 10.06 m/s² upwards.

User JiboOne
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