Question

When its 80 kW engine is generating full power, a small single-engine airplane with a mass of 750 kg gains altitude at a rate of 2.5 m/s. What is the power-to-weight ratio of the airplane?

Answer 1

The power-to-weight ratio of the airplane with an 80 kW engine and a mass of 750 kg, gaining altitude at 2.5 m/s, is approximately 10.88 W/N.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the 80 kW engine of a small single-engine airplane with a mass of 750 kg is generating full power and the airplane gains altitude at a rate of 2.5 m/s, to find the power-to-weight ratio, you begin by converting the engine's power output to watts (since 1 kW = 1000 W), giving 80,000 W. Next, calculate the weight of the airplane by multiplying its mass by the acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s2), which equals 750 kg × 9.81 m/s2 = 7357.5 N. The power-to-weight ratio is the engine's power output in watts divided by the airplane's weight in newtons. Therefore, the power-to-weight ratio is 80,000 W / 7357.5 N, which gives approximately 10.88 W/N.