A plane has an airspeed of 142 m/s. A 30.0 m/s wind is blowing southward at the same time as the plane is flying. What must be the direction of the plane in order to move due east relative to the ground?
A) 78.1° north of east
B) 11.9° north of east
C) 77.8° north of east
D) 12.2° north of east
E) 55.3° north of east

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To counteract the southward wind and move due east, the plane must have a northward component of velocity equal to the wind speed. Using trigonometry, the angle θ can be found using sin(θ) = 30/142, which gives θ ≈ 12.2° north of east.

A Plane Has an Airspeed of 142 M/s