Final answer:
Using the Pythagorean theorem, the horizontal component of the plane's velocity is calculated to be approximately 154.13 m/s, given the total velocity of 170 m/s and the vertical component of 71.7 m/s.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the magnitude of the horizontal component of the plane's velocity, we can use the Pythagorean theorem. The vertical and horizontal components of the velocity form a right triangle, with the plane's velocity being the hypotenuse. Given the plane's velocity (170 m/s) and the vertical component (71.7 m/s), the horizontal component can be found as follows:
horizontal component = √(velocity^2 - vertical component^2)
= √(170^2 - 71.7^2)
= √(28900 - 5142.89)
= √(23757.11)
= 154.13 m/s (approximately)
Therefore, the horizontal component of the plane's velocity is approximately 154.13 m/s.