Relative motion problem with airplane and wind velocity

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on solving a relative motion problem involving an airplane flying from point A to point B, 200 km due south, while facing an eastward wind of 50 km/h. The airplane's airspeed is 300 km/h. To determine the required heading angle and ground speed, the equation Vpg = Vpw + Vwg is utilized, where Vpg is the ground velocity of the plane, Vpw is the velocity of the plane through the wind, and Vwg is the wind velocity. The solution involves setting the east/west component of the velocity to zero and solving for the angle w, leading to the equations 300sin(w) - 50 = 0 and 300cos(w) for the southward component.

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Stormblessed
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Homework Statement


A small airplane wants to fly from A to B which is 200 km due south. The wind is blowing towards the east at a velocity of 50 km/h. If the airplane can move through the air at 300 km/h, find the direction the plane should be heading; the speed of the airplane relative to the ground; the time it will take to reach point B.

Homework Equations


p is plane, g is ground, w is wind
Vpg = Vpw + Vwg

The Attempt at a Solution


I wrote out the givens to start:
V = 300 km/h
d = 200 km
Vwg = 50 km/h [E]
Vpg = ?

I do not really know where to go from here. I understand that only one vector with both direction and magnitude is given (Vwg). The velocity of the plane is only a magnitude with no direction. I was unable to draw a vector diagram because I don't know what it should look like to accurately represent the scenario.
 
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So the wind is blowing from the West. The plane will need to fly at an angle west of south.
If that angle is w, then the velocity south will be 300 cos(w) k/h and the velocity west will be 300 sin(w) k/h plus the speed of the wind (-50 k/h).
So you need to make that east/west velocity zero and then work from there.
 
.Scott said:
So the wind is blowing from the West. The plane will need to fly at an angle west of south.
If that angle is w, then the velocity south will be 300 cos(w) k/h and the velocity west will be 300 sin(w) k/h plus the speed of the wind (-50 k/h).
So you need to make that east/west velocity zero and then work from there.

I'm still unsure how to solve it; can you describe the next few steps please?
 
Set up the equation for the east/west speed, set it to zero, then solve for cos(w).
 
Stormblessed said:
I'm still unsure how to solve it; can you describe the next few steps please?
.Scott said:
Set up the equation for the east/west speed, set it to zero, then solve for cos(w).

I got this equation: 300cos + 300sin - 50 = 0
 
I got 300sin(w)-50 = 0
 

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