Question 15 Marks
An aeroplane has to go from a point A to another point B, 500km away due 30° east of north. A wind is blowing due north at a speed of 20m/s. The air-speed of the
plane is 150m/s.
plane is 150m/s.
- Find the direction in which the pilot should head the plane to reach the point B.
- Find the time taken by the plane to go from A to B.
Answer
View full question & answer→In resultant direction $\vec{\text{R}}$ the plane reach the point B. Velocity of wind $\vec{\text{V}}_{\text{w}}=20\text{m/s}$ Velocity of aeroplane $\vec{\text{V}}_{\text{a}}=150\text{m/s}$
In $\triangle\text{ABC}$ according to sine formula
$\therefore\frac{20}{\sin\text{A}}=\frac{150}{\sin30^{\circ}}$
$\Rightarrow\sin\text{A}=\frac{20}{150}\sin30^{\circ}=\frac{20}{150}\times\frac{1}{2}=\frac{1}{15}$
$\Rightarrow\text{A}=\sin^{-1}\Big(\frac{1}{15}\Big)$
The direction is $\sin^{-1}\Big(\frac{1}{15}\Big)$ east of the line AB.$\sin^{-1}\Big(\frac{1}{15}\Big)=3^{\circ}48'$
$\Rightarrow30^{\circ}+3^{\circ}48'=33^{\circ}48'$
$\Rightarrow\text{R}\sqrt{150^2+20^2+2(150)20\cos33^{\circ}48'}=167\text{m/s}.$
$\text{Time}=\frac{\text{s}}{\text{v}}=\frac{500000}{167}=2994\text{sec}=49=50\text{min}.$

In $\triangle\text{ABC}$ according to sine formula
$\therefore\frac{20}{\sin\text{A}}=\frac{150}{\sin30^{\circ}}$$\Rightarrow\sin\text{A}=\frac{20}{150}\sin30^{\circ}=\frac{20}{150}\times\frac{1}{2}=\frac{1}{15}$
$\Rightarrow\text{A}=\sin^{-1}\Big(\frac{1}{15}\Big)$
The direction is $\sin^{-1}\Big(\frac{1}{15}\Big)$ east of the line AB.$\sin^{-1}\Big(\frac{1}{15}\Big)=3^{\circ}48'$
$\Rightarrow30^{\circ}+3^{\circ}48'=33^{\circ}48'$
$\Rightarrow\text{R}\sqrt{150^2+20^2+2(150)20\cos33^{\circ}48'}=167\text{m/s}.$
$\text{Time}=\frac{\text{s}}{\text{v}}=\frac{500000}{167}=2994\text{sec}=49=50\text{min}.$





