If helicopter can lift 10,000 lb of load (including itself) on Earth, how much load can it lift on the Moon?

Answer 1

Augh the trick questions...Since there is no (or at least very little) atmosphere on the moon the helicopter will not take off the ground on the moon.

The helicopter will need to "push" the air downward to create uplift.

Answer 2

None. The moon has no atmosphere so a helicopter would have no lift. A rocket which can lift 10, 000 lb on Earth could still lift 10 000 lb on the Moon but it would be a mass that would weigh 50 000 lb on Earth.

Answer 3

Yes, it's a trick question due to the lack of an atmosphere on the moon. But yes, a good teacher would give a trick question like that. It teaches people to think! That skill is extremely valuable when someone walks into your office asking you to solve a problem, and you realize what they are asking about isn't the real problem.

Answer 4

Zip.
Nada.
Zero.

Insufficient (no) atmosphere on the Moon to provide any lift from helicopter rotors.

But you knew that, didn't you?

Answer 5

Good point Frank N, no atmosphere = no lift.

Answer 6

First of all basic physics books/professors don't give trick questions like that.

The best way to do these problems is to stay in SI units.

10000lb = 4535.9237kg

The helicoptor must exert a force upward on earth great enought to lift this weight. Use the equation:

F=mg
where m is the mass
and g is the acceleration of gravity

So the force the helicoptor must exert is:
F = 4535.9237kg * 9.8 m/sec^2
F = 44452.05 N

This is the force the the helicoptor can exert upward.

Now ignoring the fact that the helicoptor won't be able to lift off on the moon due to lack of atmosphere, assume it has the same lifting force on the moon. The acceleration of gravity on the moon is 1.6 m/sec^2.

So solve F=mg for m....

m = 44452.05 N / 1.6 m/sec^2
m = 27782.53 kg
m = 61249.99 lb

The mass on the moon should be greater than on the earth. It is in this case.

Answer 7

10,000 lb of load means mass.
mass remains invariant.