Question

A pilot heads her jet due east. The jet has a speed of 425 mi/h relative to the air (in other words, if the air were still, the jet’s speed would be 425 mi/h). The wind is blowing due north with a speed of 40 mi/h. Find the resultant velocity of the jet as a vector in component form (your answer should look like )

Answer 1

The resultant velocity of the jet as a vector in component form 426.87 mi/hr 5.36 degrees North.

Step-by-step explanation:

Vectors are quantities that have their magnitude and direction .

Sketching out the problem given, by using straight lines to represent each of the vectors, we will have a right angled triangle as shown below.

The solution can be obtained by applying Pythagoras theorem to

resolve the vectors.

Velocity of jet plane = 425 mi/hr

velocity of air = 40 mi/hr

Resultant of the vectors =
`\sqrt[]{425^(2)+40^(2)}=426.87` mi/hr

Vector direction =
`tan^(-1)((40)/(425))= 5.36 degrees`

hence the velocity is 426.87 mi/hr in a direction 5.36 degrees inclined Northward