Answer to Question #256325 in Physics for Jhon

Question #256325

1. Modern aircraft have entertainment systems in front of each seat that sometimes show air velocity and tailwind or headwind. Air velocity is the speed of the aircraft through air. Tailwind is the wind velocity in the direction of travel of the aircraft, while headwind is the wind velocity opposite the direction of the travel. Ground velocity is the vector sum of air velocity and tailwind or headwind. Suppose that air velocity is 950 km/h, east and wind is blowing at 20 km/h. a) What is the ground velocity if it is a tailwind? b) What is the ground velocity if it is a headwind?

Expert's answer

a) The ground velocity is 970 km/h if it's tailwind.

b) The ground velocity is 930 km/h if it's headwind.