Calculate the Lift Force of a 4655-kg Helicopter

[badboyben03]

can someone give me the formula needed to work this problem?

A 4655-kg helicopter accelerated upward at 8 m/s2. What lift force is exerted by the air on the propellers?

 

[chroot]

Newton's second law of motion.

- Warren

 

[badboyben03]

so i should multiply 4655 and 8 together?

 

[chroot]

Originally posted by badboyben03
so i should multiply 4655 and 8 together?

This is correct -- but, just to make sure you understand why -- can you tell me what Newton's second law of motion says?

- Warren

 

[badboyben03]

net force equals the mass and aceleration.

 

[chroot]

Originally posted by badboyben03
net force equals the mass and aceleration.

What does the word "and" mean? Why did you use that word?

- Warren

 

[badboyben03]

cuz the acceleration is proportonal to the magnitude or something of the force. same goes w/ mass.

 

[badboyben03]

but some other person is telling me the answer i got is wrong.

 

[chroot]

Use the word "times" or "multiplied by" rather than "and."

The question is worded a little awkwardly. The lift force is experienced by the aircraft, not by the air.

Now, you know the net force on the aircraft is equal to its mass times its acceleration. What two forces does the aircraft feel? It feels a gravitational force pulling it down, and a lift force pushing it up. The sum of these two forces is equal to its mass * acceleration. Does this make sense?

- Warren

 

[badboyben03]

i kinda do. imma have to probably get a tutor. i don't really get what my teacher is saying, but why is the answer I am getting wrong? i got 37240N as the answer.

 

[chroot]

That is wrong.

Think about it this way: what's the first force felt by the aircraft? Gravity. It pulls the aircraft down. The magnitude of the force is

F_g = mg

What's the second force felt by the aircraft? The lift. This is the force you're asked to find. Call it F_L.

What's the sum of the forces? One pulls down, one pushes up -- they are in opposition. They counteract each other. Let's call the upward force positive, and the downward force negative. The net force is:

\begin{align*}<br /> F_{\textrm{net}} &amp;= F_L - F_g\\<br /> &amp;= ma<br /> \end{align*}<br />

Can you solve for F_L now?

- Warren

 

[badboyben03]

ooo yeah i think i can get it now. let me try

 

[badboyben03]

82859?

 

[badboyben03]

im pretty sure i get the hang of it, thanks. BUT what if all they give me is force? how do i find the acceleration w/o the mass?