Air Speed in Headwinds & Tailwinds: Calculating the Difference

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An airplane flying at 260 km/h experiences a 60 km/h headwind, resulting in an effective air speed of 200 km/h. Conversely, with a 60 km/h tailwind, the airplane's air speed increases to 320 km/h. The calculation involves adding or subtracting the wind speed from the airplane's speed, depending on the direction of the wind. This approach simplifies the problem as the vectors are aligned either in the same or opposite directions. Understanding vector addition is key to accurately determining air speed in varying wind conditions.
MikeX47
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An airplane normally flies at 260 km/h.
a) What is its air speed if it experiences a
60 km/h headwind?
Answer in units of km/h.

b) What is its air speed if it experiences a
60 km/h tailwind?
Answer in units of km/h.

I don't know how to solve this.
 
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You must add the vectors for air speed and wind speed. Each vector is an arrow. You place the arrows head-to-tail and the sum is the new vector going from the beginning to the end of the head-to-tail series. Check out
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/vect.html#vec7
Note that your problem is simpler because the two vectors you add in each part are in the same or opposite directions, no angles involved.
 

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