Question

If an airplane weighs 3,300 lbs, what approxiate weight would the airplane structure be required to support during a 30 degree banked turn while maintaining altitude?

a. 3,960 pounds.
b. 4,960 pounds.
c. 5,960 pounds.
d. 2,960 pounds.

Answer 1

During a 30 degree banked turn while maintaining altitude, an airplane that weighs 3,300 lbs would need to support approximately 3,960 pounds due to the increased lift required to provide the centripetal force.

Step-by-step explanation:

The airplane in question weighs 3,300 lbs. To determine the weight it would need to support during a 30 degree banked turn while maintaining altitude, we must consider the physics of banked turns. In level flight, the lift force must equal the plane's weight to maintain altitude. When an airplane banks, the lift force increases because it must also provide the centripetal force to keep the airplane in the turn. The lift force (L) in a banked turn can be calculated with the formula L = W / cos(θ), where W is the weight of the airplane and θ is the banking angle.

Using this formula L = 3,300 lbs / cos(30°), the lift force needed to support the airplane during the banked turn is approximately 3,800 lbs. The closest answer to this value is 3,960 pounds, option a).