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Vector addition and speed. A goose is flying due South at 20 km/hr; the goose is flying into a 15 km/hr due North wind. What is the goose's resultant velocity?

A) 5 km/hr due South
B) 15 km/hr due South
C) 20 km/hr due South
D) 35 km/hr due South

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

The resultant velocity of the goose flying due south at 20 km/hr against a 15 km/hr wind from the north is 5 km/hr due south. This is determined by vector subtraction due to opposite directions of travel and wind.

Step-by-step explanation:

When analyzing the goose's resultant velocity, we need to consider the vectors of its own flight speed and the wind speed. The goose is flying due south at 20 km/hr, and there is a wind coming from due north at 15 km/hr. Vector addition requires that we subtract the goose's southward velocity vector by the northward wind velocity vector, as they are in opposite directions.

The calculation is as follows:

Goose's velocity (due South): 20 km/hr

Wind's velocity (due North): 15 km/hr

Resultant velocity = Goose's velocity - Wind's velocity = 20 km/hr - 15 km/hr = 5 km/hr due South

Therefore, the goose's resultant velocity is 5 km/hr due South, which corresponds to option A).

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