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Q:
How do the four forces act on the plane when it is traveling vertically in air?
A:
During a straight vertical climb, lift doesn't help the plane go up at all. Instead, the thrust generated by the engines pushes the plane straight up. This thrust must be stronger than the weight and drag combined. The weight, just like normal, pulls the plane towards the earth. Since the plane is moving straight up, drag is acting in the opposite direction: straight down.
Posted on July 14, 2012 at 2:51 am
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