A plane is in level flight at constant speed and each of its two wings has an area of 40~m²$40\mathrm{~m}^2$. If the speed of the air is 180~km/h$180\mathrm{~km/h}$ over the lower wing surface and 252~km/h$252\mathrm{~km/h}$ over the upper wing surface, the mass of the plane is _______ kg$\mathrm{kg}$. (Take air density to be 1~kg m⁻³$1\mathrm{~kg\ m}^{-3}$ and g = 10~ms⁻²$g = 10\mathrm{~ms}^{-2}$)

Related Formula

At terminal velocity, downward force equals upward drag (assuming negligible buoyancy):

Core Logic

Since the density of the medium is negligible, we ignore buoyant forces. The mass M$M$ of the ball is specified to remain the same in both cases, despite the change in radius (implying the material density of the second ball is lower).

Step 1: Setup Proportionality

Since M$M$, g$g$, and η$\eta$ are all constants:

Step 2: Evaluating the Ratio

For the second ball, r' = 2r$r' = 2r$. Therefore, the new terminal velocity v'$v'$ is:

Pattern Recognition

Read the constraints carefully. Usually, questions keep material density uniform (v ∝ r²$v \propto r^2$). However, this specifically says "same mass". This shifts the formula dependency from v ∝ r²$v \propto r^2$ entirely to v ∝ 1/r$v \propto 1/r$ because M$M$ acts as a constant numerator.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Mechanical Properties of Fluids

Related Formula

Core Logic

When dropped, three forces act on the ball: Gravity downwards, Buoyant force upwards, and Viscous drag upwards.

Let (4π r³ g(ρ - ρL))/(3m) = K₁$\frac{4\pi r^3 g(\rho - \rho_L)}{3m} = K_1$ and (6πη r)/(m) = K₂$\frac{6\pi\eta r}{m} = K_2$.

Integrating from t=0, v=0$t=0, v=0$:

This is an exponential curve starting from the origin and asymptotically approaching the terminal velocity VT = K₁ / K₂$V_T = K_1 / K_2$.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Physics: Mechanical Properties Of Fluids