Introductory Vector Problem- Airplane emergency landing

AI Thread Summary
The problem involves calculating the distance a rescue crew must fly to reach an airplane that made an emergency landing after changing directions. The calculations for the components of the vectors were attempted, but the final result of 310 km was found to be incorrect, as the expected distance should be at least 333 km. The confusion arose regarding the calculations and the reasoning behind the expected minimum distance. The user expressed uncertainty about their math and sought clarification on how to determine the expected distance. The discussion highlights the importance of accurate calculations and understanding vector components in physics problems.
Jarvis88
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Homework Statement


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A plane leaves the airport in Galisteo and flies 180 km at 67.0 degrees east of north; then it changes direction to fly 255 km at 49.0 degrees south of east, after which it makes an immediate emergency landing in a pasture.

When the airport sends out a rescue crew, how far should this crew fly to go directly to this plane

The Attempt at a Solution


I assume I need the angle as measured counterclockwise from the x-axis,
90deg - 67deg =23deg

Ax = 180cos23 =165.69 km
Ay = 180sin23 =70.33 km

Bx = 255cos49 =167.295 km
By = -255sin49 = -192.45 (because I have my vector pointed in the negative y direction along the positive x-axis)

Ax+Bx = 332.99 km
Ay+By = -122.12 km

R= sqrt [(332.99^2)+(122.12^2)]
R= 310 km

I'm not sure where I've gone wrong. I also used Ax=180sin67 and Ay=180cos67, which give the same numbers (because they're complimentary angles?). I didn't round my numbers when I calculated everything; I put in the exact numbers when I added and took the square root.
Mastering Physics says I'm wrong, but doesn't provide a hint as to why.
 
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Jarvis88 said:
R= sqrt [(332.99^2)+(122.12^2)]
This number must be at least 333 ...
 
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Orodruin said:
This number must be at least 333 ...

Thank you! I rechecked my math, and somehow I must not have entered it into my calculator correctly. This may be a silly question, but how would I know it's supposed to be at least 333? Is it because 333 was the largest squared number and it was added to the other number?
 
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