A young pilot flies 300.0 km [E] adn then back home 300.0 km [w] at an air speed of 300.0 km/h. A 30.0 km/h wind is blowing to the east.

Question

a) what is the pilot's velocity relative to the ground for each leg of the trip?

b) What is the time for each leg of the trip, in minutes?

c) how long, in minutes, would the trip take if there were no win?

if anyone can solve and explain how this question can be solved and how i can get the answer it would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

The velocity for an observer on the ground will be the vectorial sum of the velocity of the airplane and the velocity of the wind:

[A]

For the first case:

Both are going to East, hence you have two vectors pointing the same direction.

Vo = Va +Vw

Vo = 300+30 = 330km/h

For the second case:

The airplane is going to West, so its velocity now is opposite to the velocity of the wind.

Vo = -Va + Vw

Vo = -300 +30 = -270km/h OBS: the minus sign is just saying you're going to West

[B]

For the first case:

v=d/t

t=300/330

t=0.91 h = 54.5min

For the second case:

v=d/t

t=d/v

t=300/270

t=1.11 h = 66.7min

[C]

If there's no wind

V=300 km/h

v=d/t

t=d/v

t=300/300

t = 1h = 60min