Question

Assume a plane is flying directly North at 200mph, and there is a wind blowing at 23mph. What is the velocity vector of the plane?

I believe I remember that this requires me to make a right triangle with the two speeds as the legs, and find the hypotenuse. Just need confirmation that I'm doing it right.

Answer 1

what is the direction of the wind?

Answer 2

East

Answer 3

without the wind, the plane flies straight north at 200 mph

with the wind, it pulls the plane slightly to the right to get this vector

Answer 4

notice how this parallelogram forms (in this case, it's a rectangle) with the resultant vector as a diagonal

Answer 5

so yes, you need to find the hypotenuse

Answer 6

My thanks

Answer 7

you're welcome