10.27 A plane is in level flight at a constant speed and each of its two wings has an area of 25 m2. If the speed of the air is 180 km/h over the lower wing and 234 km/h over the upper wing surface, determine the plane’s mass. (Take air density to be 1 kg m–3).

The area of two wings of the plane, A = 2 × 25 = 50 m2

Speed of air over the lower wing surface, v1 = 180 km/h = 50 m/s

Speed of air over the upper wing surface, v2 = 234 km/h = 65 m/s

The density of air, ρ = 1 kg m–3

Using Bernoulli’s equation:

P1+12ρV12=P2+12ρV22
P1-P2=12ρ(V22-V12)...(i)

Theupwardforce(F)ontheplane=(P1-P2)A=12ρ(V22-V12)A=12×1×((65)2-(50)2)×50=43125N

Using Newton’s force equation,

Forceofontheplane,F=mgMassoftheplane,m=431259.8=4400.51kg~4400kg

Hence, the mass of the plane is about 4400 kg.