High School

An airplane of mass 19607 kg flies level to the ground at an altitude of 19 km with a constant speed of 182 m/s relative to the earth. What is the magnitude of the airplane's angular momentum relative to a ground observer directly below the airplane in kg·m² /s?

Answer :

Final answer:

The magnitude of the airplane's angular momentum relative to a ground observer directly below the airplane is 68,279,976,600 kg·m²/s, calculated using the known mass, speed, and altitude of the airplane.

Explanation:

The angular momentum of an airplane in flight relative to an observer on the ground. Angular momentum ( L ) can be determined using the formula L = m * v * r , where m is the mass of the airplane, v is its velocity, and r is the perpendicular distance from the observer to the line of motion of the airplane (in this case, equivalent to the altitude).

Given that the mass of the airplane ( 19607 kg ), the speed ( 182 m/s ), and the altitude ( 19000 m or 19 km ) are known, we can calculate the angular momentum as follows:

L = 19607 kg * 182 m/s * 19000 m

L = 68,279,976,600 kg·m²/s

Therefore, the magnitude of the airplane's angular momentum relative to a ground observer directly below the airplane is 68,279,976,600 kg·m²/s.