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Q:

How does a plane land without crashing?

A:

First, a pilot must slow down the airplane’s downward velocity and its forward velocity. Pilots generally slow down the aircraft’s forward velocity by creating drag. Additional drag is created by extending the flaps located on the wings. Extending the flaps also produces more lift. Secondly, the pilot must control the lift to weight ratio. A decrease in lift relative to the plane’s weight means the aircraft will start to descend. The pilot gradually creates more or less lift by changing the angle of attack, in order to slow down the airplane’s vertical velocity. The airplane must be moving slow enough so that wings produce less lift than the force of weight on the aircraft. The pilot will finally be able to land once the aircrafts vertical and forward velocity can be absorbed by the landing gears once the airplane hits the surface. 

 

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