Question

The unmanned NASA hypersonic X-43 is the fastest aircraft ever made. It's top speed is Mach 8.4 (3125 m/s)! The mass of the X-43 is 16,900 kg. (Write all answers in scientific notation.)

A. What is the momentum in kg m/s of the X-43 at this speed?

B. What is the kinetic energy in joules of the X-43 at this speed?

C. If its altitude is 110,000 feet, what is its potential energy in joules at this height?

Answer 1

Here ,

A)

momentum of plane = mass * velocity

momentum of plane = 16900 * 3125

momentum of plane = 5.281 *10^7 Kg.m/s

the momentum of plane is 5.281 *10^7 Kg.m/s

B)

for the kinetic energy

kinetic energy = 0.5 * m * v^2

kinetic energy = 0.5 * 16900 * 3125^2

kinetic energy = 8.252 *10^10 J

the kinetic energy is 8.252 *10^10 J

C)

Potential energy = - G * m1 * m2 /d

Potential energy = - 6.673 *10^-11 * 16900 * 5.98 *10^24/(110000 * 0.3048 + 6.371 *10^6)

Potential energy = - 1.053 *10^12 J

the potential energy is - 1.053 *10^12 J