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Aircraft Trajectory Problem
If so instructed by your teacher, print out a worksheet page for these problems.
  Image of Newton's Second Law: Click on image for detailed description

UNIT ANALYSIS: In the table on the worksheet, give the correct units in both the English and the Metric systems.

QUANTITY
ENGLISH
METRIC
time
__________________
__________________
distance
__________________
__________________
mass
__________________
__________________
force
__________________
__________________
velocity
__________________
__________________
acceleration
__________________
__________________

 PROBLEMS: Solve the following problems and show your work in the space provided. (Don't forget to label your answer with the proper units.)

  1. An airplane begins its takeoff run at a speed of 40 knots. If the runway is 6,000 ft long and it takes 20 seconds to reach liftoff speed, what acceleration must the pilot maintain for takeoff? (One Knot=1.69 ft/sec.)

     

  2. An 8,200 kg airplane touched its runway at 65 m/s and came to a stop in 25 seconds.
    Find (A) negative acceleration and (B) the length of the runway.

      

  3. A 9,600 lb airplane takes off at 160 ft/sec. If it accelerates at a constant rate of 30 ft/sec2:
    1. How much time is needed to reach takeoff speed? 
    2. What is the length of the airstrip? 
    3. What force is needed to produce this acceleration?

     

  4. A military airplane flying at a speed of 350 m/s must make a supply drop. The pilot releases the supply crate 2,400 m before the drop target. How long will it take for the crate to hit the ground? 

 

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