Final answer:
A large aircraft is typically one with a Maximum Certified Takeoff Weight (MCTOW) of more than 41,000 pounds. Scientific notation is used for expressing extremely large or small numbers, such as the maximum takeoff weight of airplanes or the mass of mosquitoes, in a more compact form.
Step-by-step explanation:
A large aircraft is defined by its Maximum Certified Takeoff Weight (MCTOW). The question refers to this weight threshold that classifies an aircraft as large. The MCTOW is a specific figure that varies by the regulatory body, but for the purposes of answering this question, we can refer to a common benchmark used in the aviation industry. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States, for example, considers an aircraft to be large if it has a Maximum Certified Takeoff Weight of more than 41,000 pounds.
Understanding the significance of MCTOW can be aided by scientific notation, which is used when dealing with very large or very small numbers. For example, the Boeing 777-200ER has a maximum takeoff weight of 298,000 kilograms. This figure can also be represented in scientific notation as 2.98 × 105 kg. Similarly, the mass of an average mosquito is approximately 0.0000025 kilograms, or 2.5 × 10-6 kg when expressed in scientific notation.
In the context of physics, these conversions are part of understanding the forces and mass involved in the operation of commercial airplanes, such as when a tractor pushes an aircraft out of the passenger loading area.