Calculate the magnitude of the net force

In summary, the problem is asking for the magnitude of the net force on an air parcel of mass 1.0x10-3kg at a temperature of 250K, located in the US standard atmosphere at an altitude of 4.0km. The lapse rate of 6.5K/km is used to calculate the atmospheric pressure at 4km, which is then used to determine the density of the surrounding air. By comparing this density with the density of the air parcel at the same pressure and temperature, the net buoyant force on the parcel can be calculated.
  • #1
ninaw21
15
0

Homework Statement


Calculate the magnitude of the net force on an air parcel of mass 1.0x10-3kg which is at a temperature 250K and which is in the US standard atmosphere at an altitude of 4.0km. Take the lapse rate as 6.5K/km and the surface temperature as 288K

Homework Equations


Force = Mass x Acceleration
Acceleration = Speed / Time


The Attempt at a Solution


?
 
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  • #2
ninaw21 said:

Homework Statement


Calculate the magnitude of the net force on an air parcel of mass 1.0x10-3kg which is at a temperature 250K and which is in the US standard atmosphere at an altitude of 4.0km. Take the lapse rate as 6.5K/km and the surface temperature as 288K

Homework Equations


Force = Mass x Acceleration
Acceleration = Speed / Time


The Attempt at a Solution


?

Can you say more about this problem? What is a "lapse rate"? The net force on the package from what?
 
  • #3
berkeman said:
Can you say more about this problem? What is a "lapse rate"? The net force on the package from what?
The lapse rate is the rate of decrease of atmospheric temperature with altitude. In this problem, the temperature of the air parcel is different from the temperature of the surrounding atmospheric air, since the parcel has not yet equilibrated. First, you calculate the pressure of the atmospheric air at 4 km, knowing that the pressure at the surface is 1 atm., and assuming that the atmospheric air column is in static equilibrium (and knowing how the temperature, and thus the density, vary with altitude). Once you know the atmospheric pressure, you can get the density at 4 km, and compare it with the density of the air parcel at the same ambient pressure, and at the temperature of the parcel. From this, you can get the net buoyant force on the parcel.
 

What is the definition of net force?

The net force is the vector sum of all the forces acting on an object.

How do you calculate the magnitude of the net force?

To calculate the magnitude of the net force, you need to add together all the forces acting on the object. This can be done by breaking down each force into its x and y components, adding the components separately, and then using the Pythagorean theorem to find the magnitude of the resulting vector.

What units are used to measure net force?

Net force is measured in units of Newtons (N), which is a derived unit of force in the International System of Units (SI).

What is the difference between net force and individual forces?

Individual forces refer to the separate forces acting on an object, while net force is the combined effect of all these forces. Net force takes into account the direction and magnitude of each individual force to determine the overall effect on the object.

Why is calculating the net force important in physics?

Calculating the net force is important in physics because it allows us to understand the overall motion of an object. By determining the net force, we can predict whether an object will accelerate, decelerate, or maintain a constant velocity. This is crucial for understanding and predicting the behavior of objects in our physical world.

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