An aircraft carrier?

Question

An aircraft carrier launches an airplane with mass 1.12 x 10^4 kg by taking it from rest to 79 m/s over a distance of 159 m. The net unbalanced force required to produce this acceleration is_ N.

(Check the number of significant figures.)

Answer 1

The formula you need to use is v^2 = (v_0)^2 + 2ax, where v is final velocity, v_0 is initial velocity, a is acceleration, and x is distance. You have been given v = 79 m/s, v_0 = 0, and x = 159 m, so you can solve for a. Then use F = ma, where you've also been given m = 1.12 x 10^4 kg, to calculate the force F.