Lindsay+Zamites

The Forces of Flight

This photo demonstrates an airplane crash. The top airplane (white) is landing while the bottom airplane (red) is on the runway. The airplanes display several physics concepts including Newton's Laws, Force, and Momentum. Newton's Laws The crash of this airplane into the second airplane represents Newton's first law of inertia. The first airplane (white) continues to travel toward the runway until it is stopped by the second airplane (red). The first airplane represents the object in motion while the red airplane represents the unbalanced force the first plane crashed into. Without the second plane in the way, the first plane would continue in motion until it crashes into another force. Opposite to the first plane, the second plane is an object at rest. This object continued to remain at rest until the first plane, being an unbalanced force crashes into it causing it to move. Forces Several forces act upon the first plane while crashing into the second plane. While in the air, the lift and thrust of the plane overcome the drag. But as the plane descends in the picture, the plane increases drag and utilizes the force of gravity to gently land on the runway. As the plane lands, the force of the landing transfers onto the second plane causing impact for the passengers. Momentum The first plane contains momentum while crashing into the second plane. Momentum is proportional to the mass and velocity described in the equation p=mv. The first plane is losing momentum while slowing down to land on the runway. As it crashes into the second plane, the first plane transfers some of its momentum onto the second plane. However, the total momentum of the two objects before the collision is equal to the total momentum of the two objects after the collision.

Newton's Laws, Force, Momentum

Works Cited "Airplane." //Encyclopedia.// //Today’s Science//. Facts On File News Services, n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2011. .

Henderson, Thomas. “The Impulse-Momentum Change Theorem.” //The Physics Classroom//. N.p., 2011. Web. 15 Dec. 2011. .

"Momentum." //Encyclopedia.// //Today’s Science//. Facts On File News Services, n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2011. . " Physics." //Encyclopedia.// //Today’s Science//. Facts On File News Services, n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2011. .