In a cargo plane, the center of gravity must be between the front and rear landi
ID: 2207229 • Letter: I
Question
In a cargo plane, the center of gravity must be between the front and rear landing gears in order to maintain a torque equilibrium. The front landing gears help counteract the torque provided by the rear landing gears in this case. A jet transport has a weight of 1.00 * 10^6 N and is at rest on the runway. The two rear wheels are 16.6 m behind the front wheel, and the plane's center of gravity is 13.0 m behind the front wheel. A) Determine the Normal Force exerted by the ground on the front wheel. B) Determine the Normal Force exerted by the ground on each of the two rear wheels.
Explanation / Answer
F be the normal force on the front wheel, B be the total normal force on each of the rear wheels. Resolving vertically: F + 2B = 10^6 ...(1) Taking moments about the centre of gravity of the plane: 12.2F = 15.0 * 2B ...(2) Substituting for F from (2) in (1): 30B / 12.2 + 2B = 10^6 30B + 24.4B = 12.2 * 10^6 B = (12.2 * 10^6) / 54.4 = 2.24 * 10^5 N. From (2): F = 30 B / 12.2 = 5.51 * 10^5 N.