#$&*
course Phy 121
An airplane traveling to the northwest is exerting just enough force to overcome wind resistance. It encounters a sudden wind gust which is directed at 30 degrees south of east, which results in a net force in that direction. During the half-second before the pilot has time to react to the gust, does the airplane speed up, slow down or maintain constant (or very nearly-constant) speed?
answer/question/discussion:
The wind gust is traveling away from the origin in the 4th quadrant and the plane is traveling away from the origin in the first quadrant, so the forces are opposing each other and the plane will slow down.
@&
Good.
*@
#$&*
Does it veer a bit to the right, a bit to the left or does it continue traveling along a straight line?
answer/question/discussion:
It would be depended on the exact angle that the plane was traveling. If the plane was traveling exactly in the opposite direction, of 180 degrees, then it would continue traveling in a strait line. If the wind was moving in a direction other than 180 degrees from the plane, then the plane would veer left or right.
@&
Northwest is 45 degrees north of west.
Would a gust directed at 30 degrees south of east cause the plane to veer right or left.
*@