Plane%20and%20Wind

1
Plane and Wind
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Solving Problems Using Vectors
A plane is heading due south with an airspeed of
246 mph. A wind from a direction of 57 is
blowing at 15 mph. Find the bearing of the
plane.
57
15
Green line is the new direction of the plane.
246
3

First Find the Length of the Green Line
We know that the obtuse angle in the triangle is
123o because it is supplementary to the 57o angle.
57o
246
123o
15
4

Now Find the Angle
We can find the angle between the original and
new directions of the plane.
246
254.5o
15
5

Now Find the New Bearing of the Plane
If alpha is approximately 3, the new bearing is
approximately 183o.
183o