Question

8. The Navy wants a new airplane launcher for their aircraft carriers that is basically a large spring

and your job is to determine the necessary spring constant. The launcher pushes the plane for a

short distance along a much longer runway. During that same time, the plane's jet engines supply

a constant thrust force for the entire length of the runway. The planes need to have a minimum

velocity by the time they reach the end of the runway in order to take off successfully.

Extra Credit Problem Solving Worksheet

1. Focus (on) the Problem.

2. Describe the Physics

3. Plan a Solution

4. Execute Your Plan

5. Evaluate the Answer

Answer 1

As the launcher is going to be fitted onto the deck of an aircraft carrier, the space allocated for the launcher and the distance through which it has to accelerate the plane ill also be specified by Navy. Lets say the distance through which the aircraft will be accelerated by the launcher is 'X', its also given that the launcher will be made of a spring, for which e would need to find the spring constant lets assume it to be 'K', length of runway be 'L' and the thrust force produced by the engine of the aircraft be 'F'.and the mass of the aircraft be 'M'

Work done by the launcher in moving the aircraft trough the specified distance =

work done by thrust force produced by engine of the aircraft =

amount of kinetic energy that will be acquired by the aircraft after reaching the end of runway when it has a minimum velocity needed to takeoff(V)=

from work energy theorem we know that the net external work done on a body is equal to change in kinetic energy of the body.