An airplane flying North at 98.7 m/s encounters a 47.5 m/s headwind. What is the airplane’s speed relative to the ground?

Question

Physics problem

Answer 1

Let Vpg be the velocity of the plane with respect to the ground headed north, Vpa the velocity with respect to the air, Vag the velocity of the wind with respect to the ground headed south.

Therefore, Vpg = Vpa - Vag = 98.7 m/s - 47.5 m/s = 51.2 m/s north.