Consider an airplane with a total wing surface of 90 m^2. At a certain speed the difference in air pressure below and above the wings is 4.2% of atmospheric pressure. Find the lift on the airplane.
To find the lift on the airplane, we need to calculate the difference in air pressure between the top and bottom of the wings.
Step 1: Convert the percentage to a decimal.
The given difference in air pressure is 4.2% of atmospheric pressure. To convert it to a decimal, divide it by 100:
4.2/100 = 0.042
Step 2: Calculate the pressure difference.
The atmospheric pressure is the total pressure acting on the wings. Let's assume it is denoted as P.
The pressure difference (ΔP) is given as 0.042P.
Step 3: Calculate the lift force.
The lift force (F) is proportional to the pressure difference and the wing surface area (A). It can be calculated using the formula:
F = ΔP × A
Now, substitute the values into the formula:
F = 0.042P × 90
The lift on the airplane can be found by multiplying 0.042P by 90, where P represents atmospheric pressure in this context.