Extremely confusing vector addition problem

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the airspeed of a plane flying east at 500 miles per hour while encountering a 50-mile-per-hour wind from the northwest. The participants utilize vector addition to determine the necessary adjustments in airspeed and direction. The correct approach involves resolving the wind's vector components and adjusting the plane's velocity accordingly. Ultimately, the accurate x-component for the resultant vector is identified as 464 mph, which is crucial for maintaining the desired groundspeed.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of vector addition and components
  • Familiarity with trigonometric functions (sine and cosine)
  • Knowledge of vector notation and magnitude calculation
  • Basic principles of airspeed and groundspeed relationships
NEXT STEPS
  • Study vector decomposition techniques in physics
  • Learn about the implications of wind vectors on flight dynamics
  • Explore the use of trigonometric identities in vector calculations
  • Investigate real-world applications of vector addition in aviation
USEFUL FOR

Aerospace engineers, physics students, and anyone involved in flight dynamics or vector analysis will benefit from this discussion.

mikky05v
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Homework Statement



Suppose a plane flies at a constant groundspeed of 500 miles per hour due east and encounters a 50 mile-per-hour wind from the northwest. Both the airspeed and the compass direction must change to for the plane to maintain its groundspeed and eastward direction. Find the airspeed to maintain its groundspeed and eastward direction. Round your answer to two decimal places.

Homework Equations



A vector U=<x,y>
||U|| means the length of U = √(x^2 +y^2). vectors can also be written as U = ||U||(cosθi, sinθj)

The Attempt at a Solution



I'm really not sure where to start. i think it is going to end up being similar to https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=709519 my other problem question but I can't figure out what to do with this one.

I tried naming the vectors V is the new direction of the plane, V1 is the original direction along the X axis to the right, V2 is the wind direction which is at a 45 angle in the 4th quad because it is coming from the north west.

Going with this logic I did V=V1+V2
V1= 500(cos0i+sin0j)
V2= 50(cos315i+sin315j)

distribute the speeds, combine like terms and factor out i and j
V= <(500cos0+50cos315)i + (500sin0+50sin315)j> = <535.36i + (-35.36)j>

Then I plugged them into the distance formula to find ||V|| which should be my speed and got
√535.36^2 + (-35.36)^2 = 536.53 which isn't an option.

I think my issue could be in the angles I'm using as that was kind of an assumption or maybe it's in my comprehension of air speed and ground speed.

second attempt
ok so I tried to use the V_{over ground} = V_{through the medium} + V_{wind or current} to find my answer

I shortened them to Vo=Vt+Vw
Vt=Vo-Vw
Vo = 500(cos0i+sin0i)
Vt = ||Vt||(cos∂i+sin∂j)
Vw = 50(cos315i+sin315j)

Vt = < (500cos0-50cos315)i + (500sin0-50sin315)j > = <429.29i +35.36j>
||Vt|| = sqrt ( 429.29^2 +35.36^2) = 430.74

That's not one of the possible answers. Are my angles wrong or am i missing something else?
 
Last edited:
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mikky05v said:

Homework Statement



Suppose a plane flies at a constant groundspeed of 500 miles per hour due east and encounters a 50 mile-per-hour wind from the northwest. Both the airspeed and the compass direction must change to for the plane to maintain its groundspeed and eastward direction. Find the airspeed to maintain its groundspeed and eastward direction. Round your answer to two decimal places.


Homework Equations



A vector U=<x,y>
||U|| means the length of U = √(x^2 +y^2). vectors can also be written as U = ||U||(cosθi, sinθj)

The Attempt at a Solution



I'm really not sure where to start. i think it is going to end up being similar to https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=709519 my other problem question but I can't figure out what to do with this one.

I tried naming the vectors V is the new direction of the plane, V1 is the original direction along the X axis to the right, V2 is the wind direction which is at a 45 angle in the 4th quad because it is coming from the north west.

Going with this logic I did V=V1+V2
V1= 500(cos0i+sin0j)
V2= 50(cos315i+sin315j)

distribute the speeds, combine like terms and factor out i and j
V= <(500cos0+50cos315)i + (500sin0+50sin315)j> = <535.36i + (-35.36)j>

Then I plugged them into the distance formula to find ||V|| which should be my speed and got
√535.36^2 + (-35.36)^2 = 536.53 which isn't an option.

I think my issue could be in the angles I'm using as that was kind of an assumption or maybe it's in my comprehension of air speed and ground speed.

second attempt
ok so I tried to use the V_{over ground} = V_{through the medium} + V_{wind or current} to find my answer

I shortened them to Vo=Vt+Vw
Vt=Vo-Vw
Vo = 500(cos0i+sin0i)
Vt = ||Vt||(cos∂i+sin∂j)
Vw = 50(cos315i+sin315j)

Vt = < (500cos0-50cos315)i + (500sin0-50sin315)j > = <429.29i +35.36j>
||Vt|| = sqrt ( 429.29^2 +35.36^2) = 430.74

That's not one of the possible answers. Are my angles wrong or am i missing something else?
You somehow got the wrong number for the x-component of Vt. It comes out to 464 mph.
 

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