Question

An airplane P is heading N 80o W at 250 m/s relative to the air. The wind blows
from N 10o E with the speed of 40 m/s relative to the ground. Find the magnitude
and direction of the velocity of airplane P relative to the ground.
In the meantime, the velocity of airplane Q relative to the air is 250 m/s in the
direction of N 20o W. What is the speed of airplane Q relative to airplane P?

Answer 1

Add the two velocity vectors together.

Answer 2

then?

Answer 3

So first you need to find the velocity of each of the airplanes, call them vp and vq Have you done that? Then the relative velocity of plane P to Q is the vp - vq.

Answer 4

To find vp and vq you need to
- express the velocity vector of the airplane without the wind in Cartesian coordinates
- express the velocity vector of the wind in Cartesian coordinates
- then add those two together

Answer 5

This is only a tangentially related question, but if I wanted to model the effects of wind speed on the plane's aerodynamics, what class would I learn such a procedure in? Fluid dynamics? Statistical mechanics?

Answer 6

Fluid dynamics. It's all classical.

Answer 7

@hafizul, I'm not giving you a direct answer. Mainly because I'm too lazy to calculate, but also because it wouldn't be helpful for you to learn.

What part of this confuses you? Take the wind's velocity vector, add it to the plane P's velocity vector. Repeat with the other plane. Then find the vector from P to Q.

Answer 8

ok thank u very much.. i will try this solution first..