# Thrust problem, unsolvable?

1. May 8, 2010

### acspin

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
An airbus A320 jetliner has a takeoff mass of 75,000 kg. It reaches its takeoff speed of 82 m/s in 35 s. What is the thrust of the engines? You can neglect air resistance but not rolling friction. (The force of rolling friction is given by Fr = $$\mu$$r N

2. Relevant equations

Fr = $$\mu$$r N
V = V0 + at
$$\Sigma$$F = ma
T = thrust

3. The attempt at a solution

The first thing i did was solve for the acceleration. I got 2.343 m/s2.

From here I set

$$\Sigma$$F = T - $$\mu$$r N = ma

Thus:

T = ma + $$\mu$$r mg

Then

T = m (a + $$\mu$$r g)

So:

T = 75,000kg (2.343 m/s2 + $$\mu$$r9.8 m/s2)

I don't know what the heck to do from here. There is no way I can calculate the coefficient of rolling friction, and it is not given. So I have 2 unknowns and 1 equation. Does this problem need more info?

Last edited: May 8, 2010
2. May 8, 2010

### Dickfore

The formula for rolling friction is not correct.

3. May 8, 2010

### acspin

Really? That's what was given for the rolling friction formula....

I tried doing this:

Fr = murN

Fr = murmg

ma = mur mg

mur = a/g

Would that be correct for the coefficient of friction?

I'm just not sure that I'm able to set Fnet equal to the Fr

4. May 8, 2010

### Dickfore

No, that's not correct. You should consider the forces acting on the airplane wheel assuming the wheel rolls without slipping. You will need one more equation for the rotational motion of the wheel. However, since you are not given any information about the wheel, you should ultimately set its mass to be zero and analyze what effect does this have on the forces acting on the wheel when the wheel itself is accelerating.

5. May 8, 2010

### PhanthomJay

Since you are not given the coefficient of rolling friction, you'll have to look it up in a table somewhere, otherwise, you can't solve the problem. The coefficient of rolling friction for rubber on concrete is about 0.02 for a car.

6. May 8, 2010

### Dickfore

The "coefficient of rolling friction" is not given because you don't need it.

7. May 9, 2010

### diazona

According to the definition of rolling friction I'm used to, which I believe agrees with the one given on Wikipedia, I believe this problem can't be solved numerically without knowing the coefficient of rolling friction. Dickfore, if you're claiming otherwise, let's see some math.

8. May 9, 2010

### Phrak

What are you going on about? The wheels mass is immaterial in this pretend problem where air drag in not even a factor. And the equation for the rolling friction is certainly correct despite your objections. You might like to start a thread on the complete dynamics of takeoff thrust.

9. May 9, 2010

### acspin

We do need the coefficient of rolling friction to solve the problem. My professor asked me to look at a certain page in my textbook, and there it says:

The Coefficient of Rolling Friction is the horizontal force needed for constant speed on a flat surface, divided by the upward normal force exerted by the surface.

Typical values of mur for rubber tires on concrete are 0.01 - 0.02 As Phantom Jay explained.

I think I'm going to use 0.02. This is dimensionless correct?

Thanks for all the help!

10. May 9, 2010

### D H

Staff Emeritus
Yes, the coefficient of rolling friction is dimensionless.

However, why do you need a specific value? What is wrong with expressing the answer in terms of the coefficient of friction.

Here's a completely different problem to illustrate what I am talking about. Suppose you are told that an object starts from rest and moves a distance of d while undergoing a constant acceleration a. How long did it take to move that distance?

Just because you don't the specific value for d or a does not mean the problem is unsolvable. The solution is given by

$$t=\sqrt{\frac {2d}{a}}$$

11. May 9, 2010

### diazona

True, but in my experience, the fact that the problem gives specific values for mass, velocity, and time strongly suggests that a numeric solution is desired. If the intent was to express the answer in terms of $\mu_r$, I would expect to see phrasing like "Find the thrust as a function of the coefficient of rolling friction."

12. May 9, 2010

### D H

Staff Emeritus
Good point. Here he has a range of values for $\mu_r$, so he can find a range for the thrust that corresponds to this range for the friction coefficient.