An airplane is flying at 80 kilometers per hour when a strong tail wind, traveling in the same direction at 5 kilometers per hour, hits the airplane. How can the net force acting on the airplane be calculated? a divide the forces b subtract the forces c add the forces d multiply the forces
The question as posed is a bit misleading because it combines the concepts of velocity and force without distinguishing between the two. The velocity of the airplane and the velocity of the wind are not forces; they are speeds or velocities in a particular direction.
In terms of velocity, when an airplane is flying with a tailwind, the wind's velocity effectively adds to the airplane's airspeed. Therefore, with a tailwind of 5 kilometers per hour, the ground speed of the airplane (the speed of the airplane relative to the ground) would be the sum of the airplane's airspeed and the wind's speed:
Airplane airspeed + Tailwind speed = Ground speed
80 km/h + 5 km/h = 85 km/h
However, the net force acting on the airplane is a different concept. Force is related to the acceleration of an object, as described by Newton's second law of motion, which states that the net force acting on an object is equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration (F = ma).
If the airplane is flying at a constant velocity, including with a tailwind, the net force acting on it is zero because there is no acceleration (assuming all other forces like drag and lift are balanced). The tailwind would just temporarily change the airplane's ground speed without necessarily changing the net force acting on it.
If the airplane were to accelerate due to the tailwind, for calculating the net force on the airplane, you would need to know the mass of the airplane and the rate of acceleration, not just the velocities. Then you would multiply the mass (m) by the acceleration (a) to find the net force (F = ma).
In conclusion, to answer your original options regarding forces:
a) Divide the forces - This does not apply as we are dealing with velocities, not forces.
b) Subtract the forces - This does not apply as we are adding the wind speed to the airplane's speed.
c) Add the forces - If you were considering force due to wind pressure on the airplane, you would add forces, but in the context given, this involves adding velocities, not forces.
d) Multiply the forces - This also does not apply in the context given.
The most appropriate answer with the information provided is:
c) Add the velocities to find the ground speed of the airplane under the influence of the tailwind.