Question

A small, single engine airplane is about to take off. The airplane becomes airborne, when its speed reaches 161.0 kmph. The conditions at the airport are ideal, there is no wind. When the engine is running at its full power, the acceleration of the airplane is 2.60 m/s2. What is the minimum required length of the runway?

Answer 1

Answer:

384.6 m

Explanation:

The length of the runway airport should be long enough to accommodate the aircraft during its acceleration from rest to 161 km/h at rate of 2.6 m/s. We can use the following equation of motion to solve for this:

$v^2 - v_0^2 = 2a\Delta s$

where v0 = 0 m/s is the initial velocity of the airplane when it start accelerating, v = 161 km/h = 161*1000*(1/60)(1/60) = 44.72 m/s is the airborn speed, a = 2.6 m/s2 is the acceleration, and $\Delta s$ is the distance of the runway, which we care looking for

$44.72^2 - 0 = 2*2.6\Delta s$

$\Delta s = 44.72^2/(2*2.6) = 384.6 m$