A flock of ducks is trying to migrate south for the winter, but they keep being blown off course by a wind blowing from the west at 6.0m/s. A wise elder duck finally realizes that the solution is to fly at an angle to the wind. If the ducks can fly at 8.0m/s relative to the air, what direction should they head in order to move directly south? (answer is in degrees west of south)

Question

A flock of ducks is trying to migrate south for the winter, but they keep being blown off course by a wind blowing from the west at 6.0m/s. A wise elder duck finally realizes that the solution is to fly at an angle to the wind. If the ducks can fly at 8.0m/s  relative to the air, what direction should they head in order to move directly south?  (answer is in degrees west of south)

Jaymz · Accepted Answer

Kill the birds

bobpursley · Answer

The have to have a 6.0m westward component to counter the wind, (draw the triangle) so the S component of their velocity is sqrt (8^2-6^2)=sqrt (64-36) and the direction is.... arcsin 6/8 west of S.

JaymzMother · Answer

Jaymz! How dare you, I thought we raised you better than this...

Oprah · Answer

You get a bird, you get a bird, EVERYONE GETS A BIRD