Engineering Mechanics: airplane landing

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mechanics of an airplane landing, specifically focusing on calculating the time taken for the airplane to come to a complete stop after touchdown and the distance traveled during this time. The conversation includes differential equations related to the airplane's deceleration and the integration of velocity over time.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant states the landing speed of the airplane is 360 kph and describes the deceleration as 0.2 times the square root of its speed.
  • Another participant presents the differential equation $\dfrac{dv}{dt} = -k\sqrt{v}$, where $k=0.2$, and suggests solving it for velocity as a function of time.
  • Several participants request assistance in solving for the time until the airplane stops and the length of the runway required for this stopping distance.
  • One participant provides a method to separate variables and integrate to find the relationship between velocity and time, leading to the equation $2\sqrt{v} = -0.2t + C$.
  • Another participant mentions the initial value problem (IVP) associated with the differential equation and suggests a method for integration to find $v(t)$.
  • A participant summarizes the problem, noting the initial speed, acceleration function, and final speed, and provides a solution for the time to stop and the distance traveled.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no explicit consensus on the final solutions, as participants are at various stages of solving the problem and some are seeking clarification. Multiple approaches to solving the differential equation are presented, indicating differing levels of understanding and methods.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying degrees of comfort with the mathematical aspects of the problem, with some seeking simpler explanations. The discussion includes assumptions about the initial conditions and the nature of the deceleration.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students or individuals interested in engineering mechanics, particularly those studying the dynamics of landing aircraft and the mathematical modeling of motion under variable acceleration.

Joe_1234
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The landing speed of an airplane is 360 kph. When it touches down, it puts on its brakes and reverses its engines. The retardation in its speed is 0.2 times the square root of its speed. Determine the time elapsed in seconds from the point of touchdown until the plane comes to a complete stop.
 
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$\dfrac{dv}{dt} = -k\sqrt{v}$ , where $k=0.2$

solve the separable differential equation for velocity as a function of time.

you are given $v_0 = 360 \, km/hr$ (you’ll need to convert to m/s). use it to determine the constant of integration.
 
skeeter said:
$\dfrac{dv}{dt} = -k\sqrt{v}$ , where $k=0.2$

solve the separable differential equation for velocity as a function of time.

you are given $v_0 = 360 \, km/hr$ (you’ll need to convert to m/s). use it to determine the constant of integration.
Sir thank you.
 
Thank you Sir. Please help me solve again for the length of runway it will from the point of touchdown until it comes to a complete stop.
 
Joe_1234 said:
Thank you Sir. Please help me solve again for the length of runway it will from the point of touchdown until it comes to a complete stop.

once you've determined $v(t)$ and solved for the time required to stop ...

$\displaystyle \Delta x = \int_0^T v(t) \, dt$ , where $T$ is the time required to come to a full stop.
 
skeeter said:
once you've determined $v(t)$ and solved for the time required to stop ...

$\displaystyle \Delta x = \int_0^T v(t) \, dt$ , where $T$ is the time required to come to a full stop.
Thanks a lot sir😊
 
skeeter said:
once you've determined $v(t)$ and solved for the time required to stop ...

$\displaystyle \Delta x = \int_0^T v(t) \, dt$ , where $T$ is the time required to come to a full stop.
Sir, please help me how to get v(t)
 
$\dfrac{dv}{dt} = -0.2 \sqrt{v}$

$\dfrac{dv}{\sqrt{v}} = -0.2 \, dt$

$2\sqrt{v} = -0.2t + C$

can you finish from here?
 
Joe_1234 said:
Sir, please help me how to get v(t)

As skeeter posted, finding the velocity involves solving the following IVP:

$$\d{v}{t} = -k\sqrt{v}$$ where \(v(0)=v_0\)

The ODE associated with this IVP is separable, and I would next write:

$$\int_{v_0}^{v(t)} \frac{1}{\sqrt{a}}\,da=-k\int_0^t\,db$$

Try seeing if you can proceed from there and get the same result you get from skeeter's post made above just now...
 
  • #10
skeeter said:
$\dfrac{dv}{dt} = -0.2 \sqrt{v}$

$\dfrac{dv}{\sqrt{v}} = -0.2 \, dt$

$2\sqrt{v} = -0.2t + C$

can you finish from here?

Hello! If it's not too much to ask, can you please dumb this down for me (aka someone who's good with Physics concepts but absolute trash with Mathematics)? Thank you. I hope you have a nice day!
 
  • #11
The problem is rather straightforward ... you are given an initial speed, an acceleration as a function of speed, and a final speed.

note $v_0 = 360 \text{ km/hr } = 100 \text{ m/s}$ and $v_f = 0$

$a = \dfrac{dv}{dt} = -0.2 \sqrt{v}$

separating variables yields ...

$v^{-1/2} \, dv = -0.2 \, dt$

integrating both sides ...

$2v^{1/2} = -0.2t + C$, where $C$ is a constant of integration

$v_0 = 100 \text{ m/s } \implies C = 20 \implies v = (10 - 0.1t)^2$

$v_f = 0 \implies t = 100 \text{ s}$to get the distance the plane travels before it comes to a stop ...

$\displaystyle D = \int_0^{100} (10 - 0.1 t)^2 \, dt \approx 3333 \text{ m}$
 

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