Calculating Average Acceleration of a 747 Airplane

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the average acceleration of a 747 airplane as it reaches its takeoff speed of 173 mi/h over a time period of 35.2 seconds. Participants are examining the correctness of unit conversions and the application of the average acceleration formula.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the correctness of the original poster's calculations, particularly focusing on unit conversions from miles per hour to meters per second. Questions are raised about the necessity of these conversions and the implications for the final answer.

Discussion Status

There is an ongoing exploration of the methods used to arrive at the average acceleration. Some participants provide insights into the importance of showing all steps in the calculation process, while others question the requirement of using metric units for the answer. No explicit consensus has been reached regarding the correctness of the approach taken.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the problem's requirements regarding unit conversions and the format of the answer may not be clearly defined, leading to varied interpretations of what constitutes "doing it correctly."

dg_5021
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A 747 airliner reaches its takeoff speed of 173 mi/h in 35.2s. What is the magnitude of its average acceleration?

(77.3341 m/s)/(35.2 s) = 2.20 m/s^2

I am wondering did I do it correctly?
 
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Except for the transformation from miles to meter, you sure did! And by "except", I don't mean that your transformation is wrong, I only mean that I don't know how to do the transformation, so I can't verify it. But the important part is that you used the right concept, that is,

[tex]a_{av} = \frac{\Delta v}{\Delta t}[/tex]

and did not forget yo convert the units of time so they match.
 
what means "correctly"?

dg_5021 said:
A 747 airliner reaches its takeoff speed of 173 mi/h in 35.2s. What is the magnitude of its average acceleration?

(77.3341 m/s)/(35.2 s) = 2.20 m/s^2

I am wondering did I do it correctly?

please clarify what you mean by that?
getting the right answer and "doing it correctly" are very different things. did your teacher/instructor/whatever want to see all of the steps involved? if so, your answer may be right but the "doing it" is invisible and can't be judged! :wink:

the "process" might be something like this:

((173 mi/hr)*(# ft/mile)*(#m/ft)*(1 hour/60min)*(1min/60 s))/35.2 s.

if i got all of the conversions in there and all of the units cancel right, the answer will be right for acceleration = delta v / delta t.

did that make sense?
cheers!
+af
 
[tex]1Mph=\frac{1609.344}{3600}ms^{-1}[/tex]

Daniel.
 
ok, i'll bite...

dg_5021 said:
A 747 airliner reaches its takeoff speed of 173 mi/h in 35.2s. What is the magnitude of its average acceleration?

(77.3341 m/s)/(35.2 s) = 2.20 m/s^2

I am wondering did I do it correctly?

if the problem is stated in miles/hour and seconds for acceleration, what was the purpose of converting to meters/second? was that required by the problem, or are all problems' answers required to me in the metric system?

:cool:
 
Of course not...But in this case it would be rather awkward to express the acceleration in [itex]M hr^{-2}[/itex],don't u think...?

Daniel.
 

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