Hello everyone I'm working on this problem and I need some clarification.
A 40 tonne jumbo jet accelerates down the runway at 5 m/s^2. What must be the thrust on each of its four engines? What is the horizontal force that a 700 N pilot exerts on his seat?
I can calculate the thrust using F= ma. However I don't understand the second part of the question where it asks for the horizontal force that a 700 N pilot exerts on the seat. Do I have to subtract 700 N from the thrust? I need clarification
Your help will be much appreciated.
Certainly! I can help clarify the question for you.
When calculating the thrust on each engine, you are correct in using the equation F = ma, where F represents the thrust, m represents the mass (in this case, the mass of the jumbo jet), and a represents the acceleration. So in order to calculate the thrust on each engine, you will multiply the mass (40 tonnes) by the acceleration (5 m/s^2).
Now, let's move on to the second part of the question, which asks for the horizontal force that a 700 N pilot exerts on his seat. In order to find this force, you don't need to subtract 700 N from the thrust. The 700 N value represents the weight of the pilot, which is acting vertically downwards due to gravity.
Since the question asks for the horizontal force, we are primarily concerned with the horizontal movement of the pilot. In this case, the horizontal force that the pilot exerts on the seat is equal to the thrust. This is because, according to Newton's third law of motion, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. The thrust of the engines propels the jumbo jet forward, which in turn creates a reaction force that pushes the pilot backward against their seat.
Therefore, the horizontal force that the 700 N pilot exerts on the seat is equal to the thrust calculated earlier.
I hope this clarifies the question for you. Let me know if you have any further questions!