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Q:

When an airplane is moving at constant velocity, is the force of drag equal to the thrust produced by the plane?

A:

Yes!

 

In physics, constant velocity occurs when there is no net force acting on the object causing it to accelerate. In terms of airplane flight, the two main forces influencing its velocity forward are drag and thrust. At a constant altitude, when the force of thrust equals the opposing force of drag, then the airplane will experience uniform motion in one direction. This can be further explained by Newton’s First Law.

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