Finding Velocity and Direction in a Crosswind: Aircraft Navigation Problem

In summary, the problem involves a pilot trying to fly west in a wind blowing south at 50 km/h. The plane's speed without wind is 200 km/h. To successfully fly west, the plane must have a west component and a northern velocity component to offset the wind. The plane's velocity magnitude is 200 km/h and its direction must be at an angle west of north. The equation 200*f(a) = 50 can be used to determine the angle, where f is a trigonometric function and a is the angle. The correct answer is 14.48 degrees and a velocity of 193.6 km/h.
  • #1
LastBloomingFlower
15
0
Ok, here's the problem.. What am I doing wrong??

The pilot of an aircraft wishes to fly due west in a wind blwoing at 50 km/h toward the south. If the speed of the aircraft in the absence of wind is 200 km/h, in what durection should the aircraft head and what should its speed be relative to the ground?

I keep getting Velocity of 216 and 14.05 direction and its not right??!? HELP! :mad:
 
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  • #2
To fly west, the plane must have a west component, and there must be a northern velocity component to offset the southbound wind.

Take the planes velocity magnitdue to be 200, which must be at some angle west of north (to offset the wind).

So 200*f(a) = 50, where f is some trig function and a is the angle.
 
  • #3
I still can't get the right answer...
 
  • #4
By any chance, is the answer 14.48 degree and 193.6km/h?
 

What is velocity and how is it related to homework help?

Velocity is a measure of the rate of change of an object's position over time. In homework help, velocity is often used in physics and math problems to calculate the speed and direction of an object's motion.

What are the units of velocity and how do I convert between them?

The SI unit for velocity is meters per second (m/s). However, it can also be expressed in other units such as kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles per hour (mph). To convert between these units, you can use conversion factors such as 1 km/h = 0.2778 m/s or 1 mph = 0.447 m/s.

How do I calculate velocity using distance and time?

To calculate velocity, you can use the formula v = d/t, where v is velocity, d is distance, and t is time. Make sure to use consistent units for distance and time, and pay attention to direction when calculating velocity.

What is the difference between velocity and speed?

Velocity and speed are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between the two. Velocity is a vector quantity that includes both speed and direction, while speed is a scalar quantity that only measures the rate of change of distance over time without considering direction.

How can I use velocity to solve real-world problems?

Velocity is an important concept in many fields, such as physics, engineering, and sports. By understanding velocity and how to calculate it, you can solve real-world problems such as determining the speed of a moving car or the velocity of a projectile.

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