Problem 70PE Construct Your Own Problem Consider an airplane headed for a runway in a cross wind. Construct a problem in which you calculate the angle the airplane must fly relative to the air mass in order to have a velocity parallel to the runway. Among the things to consider are the direction of the runway, the wind speed and direction (its velocity) and the speed of the plane relative to the air mass. Also calculate the speed of the airplane relative to the ground. Discuss any last minute maneuvers the pilot might have to perform in order for the plane to land with its wheels pointing straight down the runway.
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Textbook Solutions for College Physics
Question
Bryan Allen pedaled a human-powered aircraft across the English Channel from the cliffs of Dover to Cap Gris-Nez on June 12, 1979.
(a) He flew for 169 min at an average velocity of 3.53 m/s in a direction 45º south of east. What was his total displacement?
(b) Allen encountered a headwind averaging 2.00 m/s almost precisely in the opposite direction of his motion relative to the Earth. What was his average velocity relative to the air?
(c) What was his total displacement relative to the air mass?
Solution
Step 1 of 3
We need to find the total displacement of Bryan while he was crossing the English Channel with an average velocity of 3.53m/s along \(45^{\circ}\) south of east for 169 minutes. We also need to compute the average velocity of Bryan relative to air if he encounters a headwind of 2m/s in direction opposite to his motion. The total displacement relative to the air mass also have to be calculated.
To compute the above mentioned parameters, we need to resolve the velocity vector into its components.
The components of velocity are as follows:
\(\begin{array}{l}
v_{\text {east }}=x \cos 45^{\circ} \\
v_{\text {south }}=x \sin 45^{\circ}
\end{array}\)
Where \(v_{\text {east }}\) is the velocity relative to earth in east direction.
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