The Kinetic Energy of a Navy Fighter Jet

Calculating the Kinetic Energy of a Navy Fighter Jet

A 22,500-kg Navy fighter jet flying 235 km/h must catch an arresting cable to land safely on the runway strip of an aircraft carrier. To determine the amount of energy the cable must absorb to stop the fighter jet, we will calculate its kinetic energy.

Kinetic Energy Formula

The formula for kinetic energy is: KE = 1/2 mv^2, where:
- m is the mass of the jet (22,500 kg), and
- v is its velocity (235 km/h = 65.28 m/s).

Calculation

Plugging the values into the equation:
KE = 1/2 * 22,500 kg * (65.28 m/s)^2
KE ≈ 48,278,520 Joules

Final Answer

The kinetic energy of the Navy fighter jet, which is the energy the arresting cable must absorb to stop it, is approximately 48 MegaJoules.

Explanation

The calculation revolves around the concept of kinetic energy in physics, specifically the energy a body possesses due to its motion. By using the kinetic energy formula, we can accurately determine the energy the arresting cable needs to stop the fighter jet during landing.