Final answer:
An aircraft on short final for runway 9 will be east of the airport, decelerating with negative acceleration as it slows down while landing. Pilots consider wind velocities and use vector analysis to maintain their correct path.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an aircraft announces that they are on short final for runway 9, the aircraft will be positioned to the east of the airport. Runway numbers correspond to the magnetic azimuth (compass direction) that the runway is facing, rounded to the nearest 10 degrees. Therefore, runway 9 is aligned roughly toward 90 degrees on the compass, which is due east.
An airplane landing on a runway traveling east would be decelerating, meaning it has negative acceleration because its acceleration is opposite in direction to its velocity. If we consider east as positive, then the deceleration toward the west would be negative.
In the context of solving problems related to aircraft motion, a pilot might need to adjust their heading to compensate for wind velocities to maintain the intended path over the ground. Vector equations and graphical analysis can be utilized to determine the airplane's velocity with respect to the ground and the required heading adjustments.