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Calculating Range for a Constant Velocity Activity
If so instructed by your teacher, print out a worksheet page for these problems.

Open the slide called Range - Constant Velocity. Read the information on this page.
Pay special attention to the four forces affecting an airplane. Open the link
Unbalanced Forces
and observe the animation of how flight is affected by the change
in these forces. When these force are equal, the airliner is said to be a Cruising Airliner
and velocity is a constant. If we assume the condition of a cruising airliner, then we can
calculate velocity, distance (range), and time using the equation given on the top of the
Range
page. This equation is d = V t .

Following the directions given in the introduction to the activity, you have investigated
some properties of air travel. You have learned that for an airplane traveling at a constant
velocity and for a given amount of time, we can calculate the distance the airplane will
travel. Also, if given any of the two variables of velocity, distance, and time, you can solve
an equation for the missing variable.

  1. In this activity, you will take a virtual flight in an airplane. You must first decide the
    city from which you are flying, and in which city you will be landing. Visit this Web
    site to determine the distance (http://www.homesinatlanta.com/helpful.htm) you will
    be traveling.
  2.  
    Beginning city: ______________

    Destination city: _____________

    Distance traveled = _______________ miles

    Convert distance traveled from miles to kilometers (hint: 1 mile = 1.6 km)

    d = ______________ miles = ______________ km

  3. Different airlines have different maximum velocities. Two Boeing airliners are shown below.
    Choose the plane on which you would like to fly and find the maximum velocity for that airliner.
  4. Boeing 737

    Boeing 747 - 400

    Boeing 737-300
    Boeing 747-400

    http://www.pilotportal.com/airpage/alpha/data.cfm?planeid=143&manname=Boeing&direction="word'&wordbox=747

      

  5. Indicate the airliner on which you will be flying and record its maximum speed.

    Boeing 737-300 v = __________ km/h

    Boeing 747-400 v = __________ km/h

     

  6.  

  7. Now that you have values for the velocity and distance variables, use the formula from the Range
    page to calculate how long the flight will take you. (Remember the values you are using are
    averages. Do not consider time for take off and landing).

    t = __________ km / __________ km/h = __________ hrs.

  8.  

     

     

  9. Where in the world are Orville and Wilbur going now?

    Orville and his brother Wilbur stepped onto a plane in Cleveland,Ohio, and flew on a
    Boeing 747-400
    (http://www.pilotportal.com/airpage/alpha/data.cfm?planeid=143&manname=Boeing&direction="word'&wordbox=747)
    for about 4 hours. Use the
    distance (http://www.homesinatlanta.com/helpful.htm) page
    and the velocity information from the Boeing Website to find out where in the world they are.

    What was Oriville and Wilbur's first destination? (Circle the correct answer.)

    1. a) Miami, FL

      b) Los Angeles, CA

      c) San Antonio, TX

  10.  

     

     

  11. The Concorde (http://www.globalassignment.com/jan99/concorde.htm) is a supersonic
    jet which flies people at Mach 2 (that's twice as fast as the speed of sound!). It takes
    the Concorde about 3 hours to fly from New York City to London, England. The Concorde
    flies at about 1350 m/hr.

    Use this information to make the following calculations:

    1. a. Convert m/hr to km/h (remember 1 mile = 1.6 km) 1350 m/hr = ________ km/hr

      b. Use the d = velocity X time formula to figure out the approximate distance between
      New York City and London.

      d = __________ km


Please send any comments to:
Curator:
Tom.Benson@grc.nasa.gov
Responsible Official: Kathy.Zona@grc.nasa.gov