A hovercraft is a versatile vehicle capable of traveling over land, water, or any other essentially flat surface.
The hovercraft consists of a body or hull onto which a rotor (lift fan) is mounted. The lift fan provides the vertical lift by propelling air into an area beneath the hovercraft called the skirt. The pocket of air in the skirt supports the moving hovercraft and reduces the friction between the vehicle and the ground to almost zero. As such, there is no contact between the hovercraft and the ground.
A second fan, which generates a horizontal thrust, propels the hovercraft forward. Rudders which direct the airflow from this second fan are used by the pilot to control the movement of the hovercraft. The horizontal movement of the
hovercraft is opposed by air resistance which generates aerodynamic drag.
A 600 kg hovercraft traveling across a frozen lake accelerates from rest to a speed of 60 kilometers per hour in 4 seconds.
What is the average force produced by the thrust fan?