Question

A small plane can travel at 200km/h in still air. If a 50km/h wind is coming from the east, determine the ground velocity of the plane if the pilot keeps the plane pointed (N).

Answer 1

The ground velocity of the plane when pointed north would be the vector sum of its velocity relative to the air (200 km/h) and the velocity of the wind (50 km/h). Since the wind is coming from the east, and the plane is pointed north, the wind is blowing across the path of the plane. This means the wind will have no effect on the plane's northward velocity and the ground velocity of the plane would be 200 km/h (north).