Minimum Barge Length for Forced Plane Landing

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a physics problem involving a 1000 kg plane attempting a forced landing on a 2000 kg barge at rest on a calm sea. The problem requires determining the minimum length of the barge necessary for the plane to stop safely after touching down at a speed of 50 m/s, considering a constant frictional force equal to one-fourth of the plane's weight.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the conservation of momentum and the effects of friction on the plane's stopping distance. There are attempts to calculate the time taken for the plane to stop and the resulting velocities of the plane and barge after landing. Questions arise regarding the interpretation of momentum transfer and the implications of final velocities.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on the conservation of momentum, highlighting potential misunderstandings in the calculations. There is an ongoing exploration of the assumptions made regarding final velocities and the implications for the problem setup. Multiple interpretations of the momentum equations are being discussed, indicating a productive exchange of ideas.

Contextual Notes

Participants are grappling with the implications of the plane's momentum transfer to the barge and the assumptions regarding final velocities. There is a noted confusion about the correct application of momentum conservation in this context.

richievuong
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A 1000kg plane is trying to make a forced landing on the deck of a 2000 kg barge at rest on the surface of a calm sea. The only frictional force to consider is between the plane's wheels and the deck, and this braking force is constant and equal to 1/4 of the plane's weight What must the minimum length of the barge be, in order that the plane can stop safely on the deck, if the plane touches down at the rear end of the deck with a velocity of 50m/s towards the front of the barge?

My work:

m1 = 1000kg
m2 = 2000kg
Ff = 1/4Fg
V1' = V2'

Fg = mg
=(1000)(9.81)
=9810N

Ff = 1/4Fg
= 1/4(9810)
=2452.5N

Fnet=Ff

P1(plane) = mv
= (1000)(50)
= 50000

P2(plane) = mv
= (1000)(0)
= 0

deltaP = (Fnet)t
50000 = 2452.5t
t = 20.387s

m1v1 + m2v2 = m1v1' + m2v2'
(1000)(50) + 2000(0) = 0 + (3000)v2'
50000 = 3000v2'
v2' = 16.667 m/s

a = V2-V1 / T
= (16.667-50) / 20.387
= -1.635m/s²

d = v1t + 1/2at²
= (50)(20.387) + 1/2(-1.635)(20.387)²
= 1019.35 - 339.777
=679.573m

Thats what i did but the answer is 340m...wondering what I did wrong...
 
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richievuong said:
My work:

P2(plane) = mv
= (1000)(0) <== First mistake I see. It contradicts what follows.
= 0

deltaP = (Fnet)t
50000 = 2452.5t
t = 20.387s

m1v1 + m2v2 = m1v1' + m2v2'
(1000)(50) + 2000(0) = 0 + (3000)v2' <== What are you really saying here?
50000 = 3000v2'
v2' = 16.667 m/s <== What does this tell you?

Thats what i did but the answer is 340m...wondering what I did wrong...
See the annotations in the quote.
 
i'm saying that the final velocity of the barge+plane which is 3000kg would be 16.667m/s by using the conservation of momentum equation...

m1v1' would be 0 because the plane loses all momentum and transfers it to the barge right? if not please clarify because I'm starting to get confused...

i don't really understand why the first part is wrong can you explain that also? thanks
 
richievuong said:
i'm saying that the final velocity of the barge+plane which is 3000kg would be 16.667m/s by using the conservation of momentum equation...

m1v1' would be 0 because the plane loses all momentum and transfers it to the barge right? if not please clarify because I'm starting to get confused...

i don't really understand why the first part is wrong can you explain that also? thanks

See the annotations in the following quote from your earlier post.

richievuong said:
m1v1 + m2v2 = m1v1' + m2v2' <== this is correct

(1000)(50) + 2000(0) = 0 + (3000)v2' <== this 0 suggests that v1' is zero and that m2 has changed to 3000kg. From what you did earlier, and from what you said in the most recent post, it appears that you really believe v1' is zero. It is not. And m2 does not change. What is true is that v1' = v2'; m1 and m2 have the same final velocity.

50000 = 3000v2' <== because m1v1 + 0 = (m1+m2)v2'

v1' = v2' = 16.667 m/s <== The final velocities are the same.
You need to use this v1' result in your earlier calculation. v1' is not zero. The final momentum of the plane is not zero.
 

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