When its 75 kW (100 hp) engine is generating full power, a small single-engine airplane with mass 700 kg gains altitude at a rate of 2.5 m/s (150 m/min, or 500 ft/min). What fraction of the engine power is being used to make the airplane climb

343/1500

Explanation:

Power: This can be defined as the product force and velocity. The S. I unit of power is Watt (w).

From the question,

P' = mg*v ... Equation 1

Where P' = power used to gain an altitude, m = mass of the engine, g = acceleration due to gravity of the engine, v = velocity of the engine.

Given: m = 700 kg, v = 2.5 m/s, g = 9.8 m/s²

Substitute into equation 1

P' = 700 (2.5) (9.8)

P' = 17150 W.

If the full power generated by the engine = 75000 W

The fraction of the engine power used to make the climb = 17150/75000

= 343/1500