help required: ...the velocity of a plane is 625km/h northwest.

[mathq]

The exercise says that the velocity of a plane is 625km/h northwest.
This is the only thing that gives you and then asks to determine the horizontal and vertical components, and give the coordinates in cartesian form.

Does anyone know how to resolve this problem when you do not know the angle? Can the angle be found only from the velocity?

Thank you

 

[Deleted member 4993]

The exercise says that the velocity of a plane is 625km/h northwest.
This is the only thing that gives you and then asks to determine the horizontal and vertical components, and give the coordinates in cartesian form.

Does anyone know how to resolve this problem when you do not know the angle? Can the angle be found only from the velocity?

Thank you

In the absence of any other information, I would assume that the direction NorthWest refers to 135 degree angle with East latitude.

 

[Ishuda]

The exercise says that the velocity of a plane is 625km/h northwest.
This is the only thing that gives you and then asks to determine the horizontal and vertical components, and give the coordinates in cartesian form.

Does anyone know how to resolve this problem when you do not know the angle? Can the angle be found only from the velocity?

Thank you

If north is 0\(\displaystyle ^\circ\) and angles are measured clockwise, i.e. due east is 90 \(\displaystyle ^\circ\), then northwest would be 315\(\displaystyle ^\circ\) and, again using north as 0\(\displaystyle ^\circ\), we have
\(\displaystyle \overset{\rightarrow}{\boldsymbol{v}}\, =\, M\, (sin(\theta), cos(\theta))\)
where M is the magnitude and \(\displaystyle \theta\) is the angle.

 

[Deleted member 4993]

If north is 0\(\displaystyle ^\circ\) and angles are measured clockwise, i.e. due east is 90 \(\displaystyle ^\circ\), then northwest would be 315\(\displaystyle ^\circ\) and, again using north as 0\(\displaystyle ^\circ\), we have
\(\displaystyle \overset{\rightarrow}{\boldsymbol{v}}\, =\, M\, (sin(\theta), cos(\theta))\)
where M is the magnitude and \(\displaystyle \theta\) is the angle.

If due North is 0 degrees - due West would be 90 degrees - Yes!

 

[Ishuda]

If due North is 0 degrees - due West would be 90 degrees - Yes!

If you measure counter-clockwise. Standard compass headings are clockwise
http://www.coastalnavigation.com/samples/sec_3/3_pages/3_1.htm