A plane flies at 350 mph in the direction N 40° E with a wind blowing at 40 mph in the direction S 70° E. What is the plane’s drift angle?

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

answer: 3.26019516

step-by-step explanation: