Question

A jet transport has a weight of 2.82 x 10⁶ N and is at rest on the runway. The two rear wheels are 16.0 m behind the front wheel, and the plane's center of gravity is 10.8 m behind the front wheel. Determine the normal force exerted by the ground on (a) the front wheel and on (b) each of the two rear wheels.

Answer 1

a) the normal force F_f exerted by the ground on the front wheel :

Taking moment about the rear end wheel we get:

F_f x 16 = 2.82 x 10⁶ x (16 - 10.8)

F_f = 9.16 x 10⁵ N

b) the normal force F_r exerted by the ground on each of the two rear wheels :

Taking moment about the front end wheel we get:

2F_r x 16 = 2.82 x 10⁶ x (10.8)

F_r = 9.51 x 10⁵ N