Question

Jet fighter planes are launched from aircraft carriers with the aid of their own engines and a catapult. If in the process of being launched from rest, the thrust of a jet's engines is 2.30 105 N and after moving through a distance of 90 m the plane lifts off with a kinetic energy of 3.60 107 J, what is the work done (in J) on the jet by the catapult?

Answer 1

Answer:

The work done on the jet by the catapult is 1.53 x  10⁷ J

Explanation:

Given;

force of thrust engines, F =  2.3 x 10⁵ N

distance moved by the thrust engines, d =  90 m

kinetic energy of the plane, K.E = 3.60 x 10⁷ J

Based on work-energy theorem;

the net work done on the plane by catapult and the thrust engine is given as;

$W_n = K.E_f = 3.6 *10^7 \ J$

work done by the thrust engine on the jet;

$W_T_._e_n = fd\\\\W_T_._e_n = 2.3*10^5 * 90\\\\W_T_._e_n = 2.07*10^7 \ J$

Work done on the jet by the catapult;

$W_c_p= W_n - W_T_._e_g\\\\W_c_p= (3.6*10^7 - 2.07*10^7) J\\\\W_c_p= 1.53*10^7 \ J$

Therefore, the work done on the jet by the catapult is 1.53 x  10⁷ J