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Relative wind is dependent upon aircraft altitude.

A) True
B) False

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Relative wind is not dependent on aircraft altitude; it is the flow of air opposite to the motion of the aircraft. The wind's effect on the total velocity of the plane is dependent on the wind's speed and direction, which can affect the aircraft's path regardless of altitude.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question of whether relative wind is dependent upon aircraft altitude is false. Relative wind is defined as the flow of air which moves opposite to the direction of motion of an aircraft. Hence, it is not directly dependent on the altitude of the aircraft; it depends on the direction and speed of the aircraft as it moves through the air, which in turn interacts with environmental winds that can vary with altitude, such as crosswinds and headwinds.

For instance, when a plane flies through the air, it encounters wind that affects its total velocity relative to the ground. If a plane has a velocity of 45.0 m/s due north but there is a wind blowing, this will result in the plane having a total velocity different from what would be expected if the air were still. The wind's speed and direction can have a substantial impact on the plane's path and must be accounted for when navigating. However, this kinematic problem, illustrated in examples like the calculation of an airplane's velocity drift due to wind velocity, focuses on the interaction between the aircraft's movement and the wind's direction and speed, rather than the altitude itself.

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