Answer:
The drift angle is approximately 7.65° towards the East from the plane's heading
Step-by-step explanation:
The speed of the plane = 350 mph
The direction in which the plane flies N 40° E = 50° counterclockwise from the eastern direction
The speed of the wind = 40 mph
The direction of the wind = S 70° E = 20° clockwise from the eastern direction
The component velocities of the plane are;
= (350 × cos 50)·i + (350 × sin 50)·j
= (40 + cos 20)·i - (40 × sin 40)·j
The resultant speed of the plane = +
= 265.915·i +242.404·j
The direction the plane is heading = tan⁻¹(242.404/265.915) ≈ 42.35°
Therefore, the drift angle = Actual Angle - Direction of the plane = 50 - 42.35 ≈ 7.65° towards the East