A plane is headed due west with an air speed of 212 km/h. It it driven from its course by a wind from due north blowing at 23.6 km/h. Find ground speed of the plane and the actual direction of travel.

1 answer

The ground speed is the vector sum of 212 km/h west and 23.6 km/h south.

Ground speed = sqrt[(212)^2 + 23.6)^2] = 213.3 km/h

Direction = tan^-1(23.6/212) S of W
That is 6.35 degrees S of W, or a bearing 263.65 degrees