I hate to ask basic questions, but I'm struggling with some new concepts and applying them to questions I have.
The question is:
A plane is flying NE at its maximum velocity of 500 km/h according to its instruments. However there is a northerly wind of 100 km.
(a) Sketch this situation on a vector diagram.
(b) Calculate the resultant velocity of the plane.
I don't have an issue with part (a), however I'm unsure about part (b). My thoughts are that it should simply be √ of 100^2 + 500^2, which is 509.90. Is this the correct way of going about a problem like this? Any help is sincerely appreciated.
Here is your sketch.
Black is the heading of the plane. Red is the wind. (wind blows from its indicated direction) Blue is the course line.
Which angles, and which lengths do you know?
Mark up the figure appropreately.
Do you know any trig laws that might help, once you have the appropriate data?
And, if you are still stuck pull out your handy E6-B flight computer.
http://mye6b.com/e6b.html#_welcome