Pilot direction problem involving force?

Question

Th pilot of a passenger jet with an air speed of 700km/h wishes to fly 1400 km due north. To move to the north, the pilot finds he must fly 10 deg west of north. If the flight requires 1 h 54min, what is the wind velocity?

I'm not sure what to do with this one, and considering most people could do this in a second in my class the last people I want to talk to is them.

Could someone give me some direction so I can avoid my own social denigration so early in life?

Answer 1

Favorite Answer

time of the flight

1 h 54 min = 1.9 h

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1.9 h * 700 km/h = 1330 km

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see picture

http://tinyurl.com/3tvle7

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AC is contribution of the engine

CB is contribution of the wind

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Distance x using cosine law

x = √(1400² + 1330² - 2*1400*1330*cos 10°) = 247.94 km

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Speed of the wind is

(247.94 km) / (1.9 h) = 130.5 km/h

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