Question

A plane flies at 350 mph in the direction 40° north of east, with a wind blowing at 40 mph in the 70° south of east. What is the plane’s drift angle? 5. 89° 6. 38° 45. 89° 46. 38°

Answer 1

The plane's drift angle is 5.89°.

To solve this problem, we can use the following steps:

- Find the components of the plane's velocity and the wind's velocity.

- Find the resultant velocity of the plane and the wind.

- Find the direction of the resultant velocity.

The components of the plane's velocity are:

X-component: 350 * cos(40°) = 265.86 mph

Y-component: 350 * sin(40°) = 188.56 mph

The components of the wind's velocity are:

X-component: 40 * cos(70°) = -16.73 mph

Y-component: 40 * sin(70°) = -28.26 mph

The resultant velocity of the plane and the wind is:

X-component: 265.86 - 16.73 = 249.13 mph

Y-component: 188.56 - 28.26 = 160.3 mph

The direction of the resultant velocity is:

tan(theta) = (160.3 / 249.13)

theta = arctan(160.3 / 249.13) = 5.89°