Analyzing the Time Needed for an Airplane Roundtrip in Windy Conditions

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agnimusayoti
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Homework Statement
an airplane is supposed to travel from A in a direction due north to B and then return to A. The distance between and B is L. The air speed of the plane is ##v## and the wind velocity is ##v'##. Show that the time for the round trip when the wind is directed due east (or west) is
$$t_{b}=\frac{t_{a}}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v'^{2}}{v^2}}}$$
where ##t_{a}## is half of the roundtrip's time in still air.
Relevant Equations
Vector additon
Because of the wind, airplane was shifted to the east. Assume airplane is shifted D units long from B.
When airplane turnaround, the wind shifted airplane to the east again as far D and to the south as far as L to the A'.
Therefore,
$$2D = (v - v') t_{AA'}$$
But,
$$D = v'(t_{a}/2)$$
Thus,
$$v't_{a} = (v- v') (t_{AA'} $$.
From this relationship, I got
$$t_{AA'} = \frac{v'}{v - v'} t_{a}$$.

Time that needed for roundtrip: A to B', B' to A' and A' to A:
$$t_b = (1 + \frac{v'}{v-v'}) t_{a}$$
$$t_b = (\frac{v}{v-v'}) t_{a}$$

My answer is different from the problem at the denominator. In my answer, (v - v'), but in the problem:: ##\sqrt{v^2 - v'^2}##.

Am I right? Or I made a mistake? Thanks!
 
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I believe the airplane must return to A rather than A’.
In that case, you have one triangle of velocity vectors respect to ground while moving North and another while moving South.
 
Yes. From A to B' to A' then to A right?
 
Ohh I see. I misunderstood the problem and think that v is directed to North, but the wind deviate its trajectory..
Hence, airplane must directed with angle ##\theta## from x neg in order to go to the North if the wind is due East.
From my calculation,
$${v}_{airplane,ground} \hat{j}=(v' - v \cos{\theta}) {\hat{i}} + v sin \theta (\hat{j})$$
Therefore,
$$cos \theta = \frac{v'}{v}$$
And,
$$v_{airplane,ground} = v\sqrt{1-\frac{v'^2}{v^2}}$$
With this velocity I can get the roundtrip time exactly same with the Prob.
Thanks Lnewqban!
 
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