Final answer:
A plane cleared to land on Runway 24 is coming from the east. Its acceleration during landing is westward due to deceleration forces such as brakes and reverse thrust. To find the relative position vectors and distance between two planes in the air, one would use trigonometry and geometric computations.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a plane is cleared to land on Runway 24, it means that the runway's orientation is approximately 240 degrees on a compass, which corresponds to a westerly direction. Thus, the plane is approaching from the east relative to the airport. Runway numbers are derived from their alignment in tens of degrees from magnetic north, minus the last digit. So, Runway 24 is oriented 240 degrees from magnetic north.
When analyzing an airplane's acceleration as it lands traveling east, it is important to understand that acceleration is a vector quantity that indicates a change in velocity. During landing, the plane undergoes deceleration, which means its acceleration vector is directed opposite to its velocity. As the airplane touches down and the brakes are applied, in combination with reverse thrust from the engines, the acceleration of the aircraft is westward while its initial velocity is eastward. This causes a reduction in the speed until the aircraft comes to a complete stop.
If we consider the scenario described in Figure 2.34, the position vectors of the two planes relative to the control tower would need to be calculated using trigonometry based on the given altitudes and angles from the horizontal. The distance between the planes can then be found using geometric methods or vector subtraction to measure the straight-line distance separating their position vectors at the noted time.