Author Question: Would increasing the load factor for air travel reduce per passenger energy use? Explain. What ... (Read 41 times)

krzymel · **on:** Jul 28, 2018

Would increasing the load factor for air travel reduce per passenger energy use? Explain.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Drag forces in cars depend on the profile the car offers to the air.

What will be an ideal response?

triiciiaa · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 28, 2018

Answer to Question 1

The extra weight carried by the plane makes a negligible difference in the energy
cost of the trip. The energy use per passenger is therefore just about
total trip energy cost without passengers / number of passengers.

Answer to Question 2

This is correct. A wall-like profile has much more air resistance than a teardrop
shape. Most modern automobiles gave profiles more like the teardrop than the wall.