I missed the class where currentwind DRT problems were taugh
I missed the class where current/wind DRT problems were taught, and I\'m not sure how to set up and solve these problems. Here is a problem from the homework:
Beth can fly her private plane 200km against a 30km/h wind in the same amount of time that she can fly 300km with the wind. What is the airspeed of her plane?
Solution
distance = rate x time is the DRT.
P = speed of plane (airspeed)
W = windspeed = 30
Against the wind (upwind, or with a headwind), the windspeed W is subtracted for the airspeed. With the wind (downwind, or with a tailwind), it\'s added.
200 = (P-30)*t
300 = (P+30)*t
Now there are 2 eqns in 2 unknowns, P and t
Pt - 30t = 200
Pt + 30t = 300
Add the 2
2Pt = 500
Pt = 250
Sub into eqn 1
250 - 30t = 200
-30t = -50
t = 5/3 hours
Sub into eqn 1
P*(5/3) - 30*5/3 = 200
5P/3 - 50 = 200
5P/3 = 250
P = 150 kph
Check:
300/(150+30) ?? 200/(150-30)
300/180 does = 200/120, so it\'s correct.
BTW, planes don\'t use km per hour, they use knots, nautical miles per hours. So do boats. Not knots per hour, just knots.
