Launch Speed

This example is a simple application showing how Newton's laws of motions are used on aircraft carriers. As with any practical application of physics, it is important to be aware of your units of measure, and the meanings of all the terms in the equations.

Author(s):

Katherine Gateau

Date Accepted: 2002-05-14 Grade Group: High School (9-12) Benchmarks: M4.4.2 M4.4.3 S12.4.7 Keywords: aviation force dynamics gravitation catapult aircraft carrier velocity acceleration Microsoft Word: 03_23_02_1.docx PDF Document: 03_23_02_1.pdf

Public Comments

Comment by John Soans on August 3, 2006
"The answer to how fast the catapult shuttle has to travel specified in the SI units of m/s in exercise 1 may be incorrect.

Editor's note: A units conversion error has been corrected in the example -- 09/25/06."

Author's Comment on July 13, 2006
"There is an error in the first calculation. The answer in english units is fine, but the answer in metric units should be 24.

Editor's note: Actually, the error was in converting the constant in the Lift equation, 1.214 slugs/ft, into metric units. The correct result, 58.127, is now posted in the example."

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