Relative velocity of a plane question

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving relative velocity in the context of an aircraft navigating through wind. The original poster describes the scenario of an aircraft needing to adjust its velocity due to a wind from the west while aiming to reach a specific destination.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the necessary velocity adjustment by considering the wind's effect on the aircraft's intended path. Some participants suggest using a vector triangle to visualize the problem, while others mention applying the cosine and sine laws to determine the resultant velocity and angle.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes various approaches to solving the problem, with participants sharing their calculations and methods. There is an ongoing exploration of how to accurately represent the velocities involved and the implications of the wind on the aircraft's trajectory.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of the problem as presented, including the specified velocities and wind direction. There is an emphasis on visualizing the problem through vector diagrams, which some participants have already attempted.

mousemouse123
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an aircraft must fly at a velocity of 150m/s[n35e] if there were no wind to reach its destination. a wind from the west of 25m/s is present for the whole flight. calculate the velocity the pilot must maintain to reach her destination in time. i started by finding the velocity of the plane in the east west dimenson. and got 122m/s [e] would i just add this number to 25 to get the right answer?
 
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hi mousemouse123! :smile:

you need to draw a vector triangle …

what does it look like? :wink:
 
tiny-tim said:
hi mousemouse123! :smile:

you need to draw a vector triangle …

what does it look like? :wink:


gee thanks... i drew a vector triangle already... that's how i got the velocity in the east west direction...
 
I found that the velocity of the plane to the ground was 165.6m/s (N42E).
I did this using the vector diagram then the cosine law to find the velocity of the plane to the ground, then the sine law to find the angle it travels. :smile:
 

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