Calculating Angle C in Vertical Plane: Trigonometric Problem in Dynamics Book

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Pyrrhus
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Trigonometric
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
2 replies · 3K views
Homework Helper
Messages
2,181
Reaction score
0
Hello, I'm in need of a hint or few pointers on how to calculate the angle C of the picture attached. I've already calculated y.

I was doing a few problems in this Dynamics book, i bought recently, and the ascention angle (angle C) is beating me :eek:

"The airplane C is being tracked down by the radar stations A and B. At the instant shown on the picture, the triangle ABC encounters itself in vertical plane and the lectures are Angle A = 30 degrees, Angle B = 22 degrees, Angular Speed A = 0.026 rad/s, Angular Speed B = 0.032 rad/s. Find a) the height y, b) the magnitude of the velocity (the vector V is at point C directed at an ascention angle (angle C) with respect tot he horizontal c) the ascention angle at the instant shown (angle c)"

ah yes distance d = 1000 m and it's between the stations A and B.

I hope the diagram is clear enough...
 

Attachments

  • plane.JPG
    plane.JPG
    13.7 KB · Views: 655
Last edited:
Mathematics news on Phys.org
A few hints:
1) Having "y", it is easy determine lengths of AC, BC, and form the vector from A to C, and the vector from B to C.
Let for example the vector from AC have the form [tex]\vec{r}_{AC}=r_{AC}\hat{r}_{AC}[/tex]
where [tex]r_{AC},\hat{r}_{AC}[/tex] are the length and direction vector, respectively.

2) Let [tex]\hat{n}_{AC}[/tex] be the unit vector in the plane of the triangle perpendicular to [tex]\hat{r}_{AC}[/tex] and pointing in the direction of increasing angle, and make a similar construction for [tex]\hat{n}_{BC}[/tex]

3) Decompose your velocity as:
[tex]\vec{v}=v_{AC}\hat{r}_{AC}+v_{BC}\hat{r}_{BC}[/tex]

4) We therefore have, for example the equality:
[tex]\vec{v}\cdot\hat{n}_{AC}=r_{AC}\omega_{AC}\to{v}_{BC}\hat{r}_{BC}\cdot\hat{n}_{AC}}=r_{AC}\omega_{AC}\to{v}_{BC}=\frac{r_{AC}\omega_{AC}}{\hat{r}_{BC}\cdot\hat{n}_{AC}}[/tex]
where [tex]\omega_{AC}[/tex] is the angular velocity measured at A.

5) Thus, we have determined [tex]\vec{v}[/tex] and may answer the two remaining questions.
Remember that [tex]\hat{r}_{AC},\hat{r}_{BC}[/tex] are not orthogonal vectors!
 
Last edited:
Thanks Arildno, i was able to solve it. :biggrin: