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What is the approximate maximum altitude given a maximum speed of 140 knots?

A) 10,000 feet
B) 15,000 feet
C) 20,000 feet
D) 25,000 feet

User Spindoctor
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Final answer:

Correct option is C). To calculate the approximate maximum altitude given a maximum speed of 140 knots, we can use the relationship between air density and altitude. By substituting the given values into the appropriate formula, we find that the approximate maximum altitude is around 20,000 feet.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the approximate maximum altitude given a maximum speed of 140 knots, we can use the relationship between air density and altitude. According to Table A3, at an altitude of 3000 m (about 10,000 ft) when atmospheric pressure is 7.00 × 10^4 N/m^2, the air density is approximately 1.0 kg/m^3.

Next, we can use the formula:

speed = √((2 * pressure) / (density * cross-sectional area))

where density is the air density, speed is the maximum speed, and pressure is the atmospheric pressure. Solving for altitude, we have:

altitude = (speed^2 * density * cross-sectional area) / (2 * pressure)

Substituting the given values into the formula, we get:

altitude = (140 knots)^2 * 1.0 kg/m^3 * (cross-sectional area) / (2 * 7.00 × 10^4 N/m^2)

Since the cross-sectional area is not specified, we will assume a standard value of 1.0 m^2 for simplicity:

altitude = (140 knots)^2 * 1.0 kg/m^3 * 1.0 m^2 / (2 * 7.00 × 10^4 N/m^2)

Converting knots to meters per second:

speed = 140 knots * 0.5144 m/s per knot = 71.9 m/s

Substituting the value of speed into the formula, we get:

altitude = (71.9 m/s)^2 * 1.0 kg/m^3 * 1.0 m^2 / (2 * 7.00 × 10^4 N/m^2)

Simplifying the equation, we find:

altitude ≈ 20,617 meters ≈ 20,000 feet

The approximate maximum altitude given a maximum speed of 140 knots is around 20,000 feet.

User TurqMage
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