Calculating wind speed with respect to an airplane

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the wind velocity affecting the airplane, the pilot's intended course and actual position must be analyzed. The airplane flew for 0.5 hours at an airspeed of 220 km/hr, covering a distance of 110 km west, but ended up 120 km west and 20 km south of the starting point. This indicates a discrepancy due to wind influence, requiring the establishment of vector equations to resolve the wind's magnitude and direction. A right triangle approach can be used to determine the resultant vector from the airplane's intended path to its actual position. Proper setup of these equations is crucial for finding the correct wind velocity.
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Homework Statement


An airplane pilot sets a compass course due west and maintains an airspeed of 220 km/hr. After flying for .5 hr, she finds herself over a town 120 km west and 20 km south of her starting point. Find the wind velocity (magnitude and direction).


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I have attempted setting up the diagram and finding the vector components of each velocity, and then using right triangles to find the magnitudes, but I keep getting the wrong answer. I have no idea how to go about doing this problem.
 
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Can you show us how you set up your vector equations?

-Kerry
 

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