An electric aircraft is towing a glider along a straight horizontal flight path at a constant speed.
A constant tension of T T\,T newtons acts in the horizontal tow-line connecting the aircraft to the glider. The aircraft's propulsion system provides a constant forward thrust of 3200 N. The constant air resistance acting on the glider is 1150 N.
Determine the value of TTT, justifying your answer from the physical state of the system.
State one assumption you have made about the tow-line.
Find the magnitude of the air resistance acting on the aircraft.
139 exam-style questions on OCR A Level Maths 3.3 Forces and Newton's Laws, covering 3.3.1 Concept and vector nature of a force, 3.3.2 Newton's first law, 3.3.3 Newton's second law in a straight line, 3.3.4 Newton's second law with vectors (A-level only), 3.3.5 Newton's second law with resolved forces (A-level only), 3.3.6 Weight, 3.3.7 Gravitational acceleration, 3.3.8 Newton's third law, 3.3.9 Normal reaction force, 3.3.10 Smooth contact model, 3.3.11 Equilibrium with connected particles and pulleys, 3.3.12 Newton's third law with resolved forces (A-level only), 3.3.13 Equilibrium by resolving (A-level only), 3.3.14 Equilibrium of forces in two dimensions using vectors (A-level only), 3.3.15 Resolving forces for advanced problems (A-level only), 3.3.16 Resultant forces and components (A-level only), 3.3.17 Dynamics of a particle in a plane (A-level only), 3.3.18 Concept of a frictional force (A-level only), 3.3.19 Contact force components (A-level only), 3.3.20 Coefficient of friction (A-level only), 3.3.21 Static and limiting equilibrium on a rough surface (A-level only), 3.3.22 Motion of a body on a rough surface (A-level only), and 3.3 Forces and Newton's Laws. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.