How Do Planes Calculate Relative Velocities?

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AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the relative velocities of two airplanes taxiing towards a terminal, with Plane 1 moving north at 13.4 m/s and Plane 2 at 6.2 m/s, 18.8° north of west. The user successfully calculated the magnitude of the relative velocity between the two planes as 12.823 m/s using the law of cosines. However, they are struggling to determine the correct directional angles for both planes relative to each other. The user believes the angles should be equal but is confused about the calculations leading to incorrect results. The thread highlights the complexities of vector addition and angle determination in relative motion problems.
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Homework Statement



Two airplanes taxi as they approach the terminal. Plane 1 taxies with a speed of 13.4 m/s due north. Plane 2 taxies with a speed of 6.2 m/s in a direction 18.8° north of west.
(a) What are the direction and magnitude of the velocity of plane 1 relative to plane 2?
(b) What are the direction and magnitude of the velocity of plane 2 relative to plane 1?


Homework Equations



The law of cosines: A^2 = B^2 + C^2 - 2*B*C*cos(A)



The Attempt at a Solution



I set the vectors tail - to - tail and used the law of cosines to solve for the resultant vector, which I call n:

n^2 = 6.2^2 + 13.4^2 - 2(6.2)(13.4)cos(71.2)
n = 12.823 m/s

So I have the magnitude. Now I need the direction. For (a), the direction will be X degrees north of east, and for (b) the direction will be Y degrees south of west. I'm have a feeling that X=Y, but I can't seem to get the right answer. Here's what I'm doing:

I solve for the angle between the 12.823 and the 18.8 sides:
theta = cos^-1 ([12.823^2 + 18.8^2 - 13.4^2]/[2*12.823*18.8])
theta = 45.4385 degrees

That leaves the remaining angle in the triangle to be 63.3615 degrees.

So to find the direction for, let's say, part (b), shouldn't I just subtract 64.3615 degrees from 90 degrees? That would yield 25.6385 degrees. But that answer is incorrect.

What am I failing to see?

Thanks for your response!
 
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At the very end of my post I meant to say 63.3615 and 26.6385 degrees; it was a typo.
 
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