Physics of Flight: Landing Speed vs. Stalling Speed
Question:
The landing speed of an airplane is 7 m/s faster than its stalling speed. What is the relationship between the two speeds, and how can this be expressed?
Answer:
Let us define the variables first to understand the relationship:
- vs = Stalling speed of the airplane (in m/s)
- vℓ = Landing speed of the airplane (in m/s)
Step 1: Understand the given relationship
According to the problem, the airplane’s landing speed is 7 m/s faster than its stalling speed.
This equation shows a simple linear relationship between landing and stalling speeds. Regardless of the specific value of vs, the landing speed will always be 7 m/s higher.
Step 2: Example Calculation
If the airplane has a stalling speed of:
Then the landing speed will be:
Conclusion:
The landing speed of an aircraft must be higher than its stalling speed to ensure stability and control during the final approach. The margin (in this case, 7 m/s) helps prevent stall conditions while landing.
Thus, the relationship is accurately expressed as: