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Real-World Math Tutorials Computing Airplane Takeoff Speeds This article (Computing Airplane Takeoff Speeds) describes the process performed by an onboard airplane computer in determining speeds the pilot uses in making decisions during takeoff. The mathematics involved requires knowledge of second-order polynomials, hence should be grasped by Grades 9 and up. As a pilot accelerates from a stop, he/she must be cognizant of a quantity referred to as the decision speed. This is the speed at which the pilot must choose to either continue with the takeoff or abort the takeoff and stop the airplane. The value of this speed depends on many things: altitude, temperature, airplane configuration, weight, braking energy, and engine type, to name a few. But, for demonstration purposes, we can compute this speed using some simple physics and math. The speed can be determined in two ways: a direct solution and a numerical solution. The notes are presented in Microsoft Word format. To use the notes, download the zip file and extract the file to a desired directory. The resulting file can be opened and read in Word. |
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