A model airplane of mass 0.75 kg is flying at constant speed in a horizontal circle at one end of a 30 m cord and at a height of 18 m. The other end of the cord is teathered to the ground. The airplane circles 4.4 times per minute and has its wings horizontal so that the air is pushing vertically upward.
I don't need anyone to solve the question for me. How would I find the tension of the cord? I have already drawn a free-body diagram
2006-10-02 11:28:29 · 2 answers · asked by brianp297 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Find the centripetal force acting on the plane.
Find the component of gravity that acts on the same axis.
The tension in the rope is the part of the centripetal force that is not supplied by the component of the force of gravity.
2006-10-02 11:38:47 · answer #1 · answered by wibblytums 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Interesting- I was actually trying to envision this in my head. The plane is horizontal to the origin (0,0) at a unit of 18m- yet the total length of the cord is 30, leaving 12m of slack in the line I am assuming.
Tension would be the effect of the plane's weight on the cord as it made its circumference. I can imagine a triangle- 18m is one side, making 4.4 revolutions (pi r sqr)/min might be its acceleration? F=ma.
Seems to me that the tension would be a function of the imaginary hypotneuse (tension= force). Probably as it relates to Hooke's Law(s).
Good luck!
2006-10-02 11:40:10 · answer #2 · answered by RHJ Cortez 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋