Final answer:
The mass of the airplane can be calculated using physics principles, by applying Newton's second law and considering the given forces and acceleration. The force exerted by the tractor on the airplane is adjusted for friction. Free-body diagrams would provide a visual representation of the forces in play.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to determining the mass of an airplane using principles of physics, specifically Newton's second law of motion. To solve for the mass of the airplane given the force exerted by the tractor and the total resistance due to friction, we use the formula F = ma, where F is the net force, m is the mass, and a is the acceleration. Since the tractor exerts a force of 1.75 × 104 N and the system experiences a total resistance force of 2400 N, we subtract the resistance from the tractor's force to find the net force acting on the airplane. Then, divide the net force by the acceleration (0.150 m/s²) to find the mass of the airplane.
To calculate the force exerted by the tractor on the airplane, we subtract the specific friction force the airplane experiences (2200 N) from the total force exerted by the tractor. This gives us the active force the tractor applies to move the airplane. The free-body diagrams would illustrate the various forces acting on the tractor and airplane separately, showing the direction of each force and labeling the magnitudes.