What is the formula for calculating minimum takeoff speed of a light aircraft?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the minimum takeoff speed for a light aircraft, given specific parameters such as mass, wingspan area, and wing distances. Participants are exploring the relevant formula and the variables involved in the calculation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are attempting to understand the formula for minimum takeoff speed and are questioning how to determine certain variables like density (p) and force (Fw). There is discussion about the ratio of wing distances (d2/d1) and its impact on takeoff velocity.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights regarding the relationship between the wing distance ratio and takeoff speed, while others express confusion about the source of the equation and the variables involved. There is an acknowledgment of the need for clarification on the density and its relevance to the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the lack of access to the textbook and express difficulty in finding assistance from peers. There is a mention of the constraints in determining density from the provided information, as only the mass of the entire plane is given.

Towely
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1. A light aircraft has a mass of 2.0x10^3 kg, a wingspan area of 10.0m^2, an upper wing distance of 1.75m, and a lower wing distance of 1.00m. What minimum takeoff speed must the airplane travel to become airborne?



2. V1= square root of ((2Fw)/(pA(((d2/d1)^2)-1))



3. How am I supposed to find p and Fw? Which length is d1 and which is d2?
 
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Look at the ratio of d2/d1 and its effect on take off velocity V. Should V decrease as d2/d1 increases? If so then d2 is the longer length. Also d2/d1 > 1, because one does not want to be taking the sqrt of a negative number (argument) in this case.

Isn't there some discussion of the variables and the equation from the source (text) where the equation was taken?
 
Astronuc said:
Look at the ratio of d2/d1 and its effect on take off velocity V. Should V decrease as d2/d1 increases? If so then d2 is the longer length. Also d2/d1 > 1, because one does not want to be taking the sqrt of a negative number (argument) in this case.

Isn't there some discussion of the variables and the equation from the source (text) where the equation was taken?

No, it isn't taken out of the textbook. I read through multiple chapters a few times and haven't even found that equation in the book. I was gone the day he went through it too and he told me to ask one of my students for help because there's no time for us to meet outside of class. Every student I asked gave the reply "I just got the answeres from x." So I ask x how to do it. "Oh I just stole y's answers."

None of them could help explain it.

edit: Thank you for the answer about d2/d1. I am almost posative you are correct(and now that I look at it I feel silly for having to ask that question :frown: lol...) I gtg eat but I'm going to try and figure it out again, will post the results and how I got them within the hour.
 
Last edited:
p is sapposed to be density correct? but how am I sapposed to figure out density from the given information if I can only figure out the volume of the wing and not the entire plane and only the mass of the entire plane is given?

And why would density matter in the first place?
 
Towely, you can use Bernouilli's equation for ideal fluids (even though air, strictly speaking isn't an ideal fluid) and you also have to take into account that the total force which is "pulling" the jet up must be greater than its weight. I hope that cleared things up a bit. :)

Hint: pressure = force/ wingspan area , also remember that you have TWO wings.
 

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