The receiver aircraft has a mass of 110,000 kg and has an acceleration of 4.5 m/s^2 prior to refueling in flight. The receiver aircraft then receives 30,000 kg of fuel from the tanker aircraft. According to Newton′s second law (F = ma), select the correct
To determine the new acceleration of the receiver aircraft after it receives 30,000 kg of fuel, we can use Newton's second law (F = ma).
1. **Initial conditions:**
- Mass of the receiver aircraft before refueling, \( m_1 = 110,000 \, \text{kg} \)
- Initial acceleration, \( a_1 = 4.5 \, \text{m/s}^2 \)
- Initial force, \( F = m_1 \times a_1 = 110,000 \, \text{kg} \times 4.5 \, \text{m/s}^2 = 495,000 \, \text{N} \)
2. **After refueling:**
- New mass, \( m_2 = 110,000 \, \text{kg} + 30,000 \, \text{kg} = 140,000 \, \text{kg} \)
3. **To find the new acceleration \( a_2 \):**
- Using the same force:
\[
a_2 = \frac{F}{m_2} = \frac{495,000 \, \text{N}}{140,000 \, \text{kg}} \approx 3.54 \, \text{m/s}^2
\]
Thus, the new acceleration of the receiver aircraft after receiving the fuel is approximately **3.54 m/s²**.
Finally, the complete statement completes as follows:
"According to Newton's second law (F = ma), the acceleration changes from **4.5 m/s² to 3.54 m/s²**."