Final answer:
Yes, the runway is long enough for the airplane to safely stop. With a minimum speed of 55 m/s and a deceleration rate of 3 m/s², the plane requires 302.5 meters to stop, which is much shorter than the 1500-meter runway.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking whether a runway of 1500 meters is long enough for an airplane making an emergency landing to come to a safe stop. The airplane can fly at a minimum speed of 55 m/s and can decelerate at 3 m/s2. To find this out, we can use the kinematic equation that relates initial velocity, acceleration, and distance covered: v2 = u2 + 2as, where v is the final velocity, u is the initial velocity, a is the acceleration, and s is the displacement.
The airplane's final velocity when it comes to a stop will be 0 m/s. Using the kinematic equation and substituting the given values: 0 = (55)2 + 2(-3)(s). Solving for s gives us s = (55)2 / (2 * 3) = 302.5 meters. This means the airplane requires at least 302.5 meters to stop. Since the runway is 1500 meters long, which is significantly greater than 302.5 meters, the answer is a) Yes, the runway is long enough for the plane to come to a safe stop.