Question

A plane travels at a speed of 160mph in still air. flying with a tailwind, the plane is clocked over a distance of 550 miles. flying against a headwind, it takes 2 hours longer to complete the return trip. what was the wind velocity? (round your answer to the nearest tenth.)

Answer 1

The time of travel with wind will be; 550/160 = 3.4375 hours
Time against a headwind will be 3.4375 hours + 2 hours = 5.4375 hours
Therefore; the speed of plane against wind will be;
= 550/ 5.4375
= 101.15 mph
Assuming x is the plane speed in still air and w the speed of the wind.
But; 160 = x + w
101.15 = x-w ; subtracting
2w = 58.85
w = 29.425 mph
Hence the speed of wind is 29.425mph