Why Are Commercial Jet Windows So Small?

[kevinnn]

Homework Statement

Why are the windows on a commercial jet so small?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

I said because the smaller the window the less force that will be applied on it due to pressure differences. But since F=AP and the pressure stays the same the larger the windows are the more force they would be susceptible to. Is this the correct answer? Thanks.

 

[tms]

There are more important considerations than that.

 

[kevinnn]

Yes I assumed there were. I believe another reason would be so that if a window was compromised the pressure would not drop in the airplane that fast because the air would have to escape out of a smaller area and the pilot would be able to get to lower altitudes in time. If the windows were large te pressure would change too quickly for the pilot to get to a safe altitude. Right?

 

[tms]

Yes, that is a factor, too. I understand that such events have caused the loss of some planes in the past. But there is still a bigger issue. Have you ever seen a house being built?

 

[Chestermiller]

Try thinking of it in terms of beam bending under a uniformly distributed load. The airplane is the analogous problem for a plate.