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QJEEM24Phaeb2: JEE Main 2024 Physics - Class 11 JEEM24Phaeb2 Solution: A plane is in level flight at constant speed and each of its…

A plane is in level flight at constant speed and each of its two wings has an area of 40 m240 \mathrm{~m}^2 . If the speed of the air is 180 km/h180 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{h} over the lower wing surface and 252 km/h252 \mathrm{~km} / \mathrm{h} over the upper wing surface, the mass of the plane is ___________ kg.

(Take air density to be 1 kg m−31 \mathrm{~kg} \mathrm{~m}^{-3} and g=10 ms−2\mathrm{g}=10 \mathrm{~ms}^{-2} )

Step-by-Step Verified Solution

To solve this problem, we need to employ Bernoulli's equation, which is applied to describe the behavior of fluid flow. For a fluid in steady flow, the principle states that the sum of the pressure potential energy density, kinetic energy density, and the gravitational potential energy density has the same value at all points along a streamline. Since the plane is in level flight, we can ignore changes in gravitational potential energy. Bernoulli's equation can be written as:

P1+12ρv12=P2+12ρv22,P_1 + \frac{1}{2} \rho v_1^2 = P_2 + \frac{1}{2} \rho v_2^2,

where,

  • P1P_1 and P2P_2 are the static pressures on the lower and upper surfaces of the wing respectively,
  • v1v_1 is the airspeed over the lower surface of the wing,
  • v2v_2 is the airspeed over the upper surface of the wing,
  • ρ\rho is the density of air,
  • P_2 > P_1 because v_2 > v_1 .

First, let's convert the airspeeds to m/s\mathrm{m/s} :

v1=180kmh×1000m3600s=50m/s,v_1 = 180 \frac{\mathrm{km}}{\mathrm{h}} \times \frac{1000 \mathrm{m}}{3600 \mathrm{s}} = 50 \mathrm{m/s},

v2=252kmh×1000m3600s=70m/s.v_2 = 252 \frac{\mathrm{km}}{\mathrm{h}} \times \frac{1000 \mathrm{m}}{3600 \mathrm{s}} = 70 \mathrm{m/s}.

The pressure difference between the lower and upper wing surfaces can thus be calculated using Bernoulli's equation:

ΔP=P1−P2=12ρv22−12ρv12.\Delta P = P_1 - P_2 = \frac{1}{2} \rho v_2^2 - \frac{1}{2} \rho v_1^2.

Substitute the values (with ρ=1 kg/m3\rho = 1 \mathrm{~kg/m}^3 ):

ΔP=12(1 kg/m3)(70m/s)2−12(1 kg/m3)(50m/s)2,\Delta P = \frac{1}{2} (1 \mathrm{~kg/m}^3) (70 \mathrm{m/s})^2 - \frac{1}{2} (1 \mathrm{~kg/m}^3) (50 \mathrm{m/s})^2,

ΔP=12(4900 kg/m⋅s2)−12(2500 kg/m⋅s2),\Delta P = \frac{1}{2} (4900 \mathrm{~kg/m \cdot s}^2) - \frac{1}{2} (2500 \mathrm{~kg/m \cdot s}^2),

ΔP=12(2400 kg/m⋅s2),\Delta P = \frac{1}{2} (2400 \mathrm{~kg/m \cdot s}^2),

ΔP=1200 N/m2.\Delta P = 1200 \mathrm{~N/m}^2.

The lift force generated by the pressure difference over one wing is ΔP×wing area\Delta P \times \text{wing area} , and since there are two wings, we must double the lift force generated by one wing to find the total lift force sustaining the plane. The weight of the plane is effectively the lift force when in level flight at constant speed. So:

Lift=2×ΔP×wing area,\text{Lift} = 2 \times \Delta P \times \text{wing area},

Lift=2×1200 N/m2×40 m2,\text{Lift} = 2 \times 1200 \mathrm{~N/m}^2 \times 40 \mathrm{~m}^2,

Lift=2×48000N,\text{Lift} = 2 \times 48000 \mathrm{N},

Lift=96000N.\text{Lift} = 96000 \mathrm{N}.

To find the mass mm of the plane, we use Newton's second law, where lift force is equal to the weight ( mgmg , where gg is the acceleration due to gravity):

mg=Lift,m g = \text{Lift},

m=Liftg,m = \frac{\text{Lift}}{g},

m=96000N10m/s2,m = \frac{96000 \mathrm{N}}{10 \mathrm{m/s}^2},

m=9600kg.m = 9600 \mathrm{kg}.

Therefore, the mass of the plane is 9600 kg.

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