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A plane is flying at a speed of 70 kilometers per hour. Then a tailwind (moving in the same direction as the plane) of 5 kilometers per hour acts on the plane. How is the plane’s net force calculated?

a) Net force = 70 N
b) Net force = 5 N
c) Net force = 75 N
d) Net force = 65 N

User Tarscher
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The plane's net force cannot be directly calculated from its speed or the tailwind speed. To determine net force, factors such as drag, thrust, weight, and lift must be considered, and mathematically it involves mass and acceleration.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a plane is flying and a tailwind acts on it, the plane's speed relative to the ground increases by the speed of the wind. This is because the tailwind adds to the plane's airspeed due to the vector addition of velocities. In the example you've given, the plane's net force cannot be determined solely by its speed or the wind speed. The net force acting on the plane would be influenced by various factors including drag, thrust, weight, and lift, and it is not directly calculated from the velocity. Typically, you would need to know the mass and acceleration of the plane to calculate the net force using Newton's second law, F = m × a.

Example Calculations:

  • A plane flies north at 200 m/s with a headwind of 70 m/s. The resultant velocity of the plane would be 130 m/s north.
  • Flying a plane in a wind blowing out of the northeast at 90 km/h, the pilot must adjust the heading to reach the destination due north.
  • When wind causes a net force with components of 1400 N in the direction of travel and 212 N perpendicular, the net force would be calculated using vector addition.

User Wild Widow
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