MHB Why Do Vehicles Moving North-South Have East-West Velocity Components?

AI Thread Summary
Vehicles moving north-south can exhibit east-west velocity components due to the curvature of the Earth and the influence of wind or road conditions. The speeds of the Toyundai and Chryssalt are given as 30 km/h and approximately 39 km/h, respectively, indicating that their actual trajectories may not align perfectly with the intended north-south direction. Factors such as lateral forces and the Earth's rotation can contribute to these east-west components. Understanding these dynamics is essential for accurate navigation and vehicle control. This discussion highlights the complexities of vehicle motion in relation to Earth's geography.
karush
Gold Member
MHB
Messages
3,240
Reaction score
5
https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/1222

there are 5 more questions on this which are more complicated but want to get this (a) first. assume by speed they mean magnitude of the vector.

Toyundai speed is $$30 \frac{km}{h} $$

Chryssalt speed is $$\approx 39 \frac{km}{h}$$
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
The arithmetic looks fine, but the question doesn't. Why do vehicles working north-south have east-west velocity components?
 
Seemingly by some mathematical coincidence, a hexagon of sides 2,2,7,7, 11, and 11 can be inscribed in a circle of radius 7. The other day I saw a math problem on line, which they said came from a Polish Olympiad, where you compute the length x of the 3rd side which is the same as the radius, so that the sides of length 2,x, and 11 are inscribed on the arc of a semi-circle. The law of cosines applied twice gives the answer for x of exactly 7, but the arithmetic is so complex that the...
Back
Top