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a plane flies due north with velocity 100 km/hr for 3 hours. during this time a steady wind blows south east at 30km/hr at an angle of 315. how far did it travel

User Shmuelie
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1 Answer

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The plane traveled 541.6 km during this time.

The Breakdown

Finding the displacement of the plane due to its velocity of 100 km/hr for 3 hours. Since the plane is flying due north, its displacement vector is:

d1 = 100 km/hr × 3 hr × north = 300 km north

v_wind,north = 30 km/hr × cos(315°) ≈ -21.2 km/hr (southward component)

v_wind,east = 30 km/hr × sin(315°) ≈ -21.2 km/hr (westward component)

Note that we use a negative sign for the northward component since the wind is blowing southward.

The displacement vector due to the wind is then:

d2 = (v_wind,north + v_plane,north) × t + v_wind,east * t

= (-21.2 km/hr + 100 km/hr) × 3 hr × north + (-21.2 km/hr) × 3 hr × west

≈ 237.6 km north + 63.6 km west

To find the total displacement of the plane, we add the two displacement vectors:

d_total = d1 + d2

= 300 km north + 237.6 km north + 63.6 km west

≈ 537.6 km north + 63.6 km west

The distance traveled by the plane is the magnitude of the total displacement vector:

|d_total| = sqrt((537.6 km)² + (63.6 km)2)

≈ 541.6 km

Therefore, the plane traveled 541.6 km during this time.

User Brian Jones
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