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An airbus a380-800 passenger airplane is cruising at constant altitude with a constant velocity. the total surface area of the two wings is 395 m^2. the average speed of the air just below the wings is 248 m/s, and it is 275 just above the surface of the wings. what is the mass of the airplane?

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Final answer:

To find the mass of the airplane, we can use the concept of lift. The average speed just below the wings is 248 m/s, while it is 275 m/s just above the surface of the wings. Using the equations for lift force and weight, we can calculate the mass of the airplane to be approximately 1088 kg.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the mass of the airplane, we can use the concept of lift. The average speed just below the wings is 248 m/s, while it is 275 m/s just above the surface of the wings. This difference in speed creates a pressure difference, which results in lift. The lift force can be determined using the equation:

Lift force = (pressure difference) x (wing area)

Given that the pressure difference is the average speed difference, which is 275 m/s - 248 m/s = 27 m/s, and the wing area is 395 m², we can substitute these values into the equation:

Lift force = 27 m/s x 395 m² = 10665 N

The lift force is equal to the weight of the airplane, which can be calculated using the equation:

Weight = mass x gravity

Using the known value of gravity (approximately 9.8 m/s²), we can rearrange the equation to solve for the mass:

mass = Weight / gravity = 10665 N / 9.8 m/s² = 1088 kg

Therefore, the mass of the airplane is approximately 1088 kg.

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