A plane travels at a speed of 160mph in still air. flying with a tailwind, the plane is clocked over a distance of 550 miles. flying against a headwind, it takes 2 hours longer to complete the return trip. what was the wind velocity? (round your answer to the nearest tenth.)

Question

Physics

Juliet Wilkinson

5 January, 16:09

A plane travels at a speed of 160mph in still air. flying with a tailwind, the plane is clocked over a distance of 550 miles. flying against a headwind, it takes 2 hours longer to complete the return trip. what was the wind velocity? (round your answer to the nearest tenth.)

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Answers (1)

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Sarge · Answer 1

The time of travel with wind will be; 550/160 = 3.4375 hours

Time against a headwind will be 3.4375 hours + 2 hours = 5.4375 hours

Therefore; the speed of plane against wind will be;

= 550 / 5.4375

= 101.15 mph

Assuming x is the plane speed in still air and w the speed of the wind.

But; 160 = x + w

101.15 = x-w; subtracting

2w = 58.85

w = 29.425 mph

Hence the speed of wind is 29.425mph