Question

An air craft heads north at 320 km/hr relative to the wind. the wind velocity is 80km/hr from the north. find the relative velocity of the air craft ralative to the ground
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Answer 1

Answer:

Relative to the ground, the velocity of the aircraft is 240 km/hr

Explanation:

Relative velocity is different from normal velocity;

When 2 objects are moving in opposite directions towards each other, they will appear to be faster than they actually are;

This is known as the relative velocity;

The information tells us we have the aircraft moving 320 km/hr northwards relative to the wind;

The wind is in the opposite direction at 80 km/hr;

R = relative velocity of the aircraft

v = actual velocity of the aircraft

w = velocity of the wind

R = v + w

Note: if the wind was moving in the same direction, the formula would be R = v - w

320 = v + 80

v = 320 - 80

v = 240

The velocity relative to the ground is simply the actual velocity as the ground doesn't move;

So, relative to the ground, the velocity of the aircraft is simply 240 km/hr