Question

A jetliner flies east 2000 miles from San Francisco to Chicago. It has an average air speed of 600 mph relative to the air. What is the velocity of the jetliner relative to the earth if the wind is blowing at 150 mph from the west to the east?
450 mph, west
750 mph, east
750 mph, west
450 mph, east

Answer 1

Answer:

750 mph, east

Explanation:

The jetliner is going from San Francisco to Chicago... so it's moving from West to East, at 600 mph, relative to the air.

The wind is also moving from West to East, at 150 mph.

Since both are going in the same direction, we combine the speeds by adding them to each other.  If they were in opposite direction, we would subtract them.

So, 600 mph for the plane + 150 mph for the wind = 750 mph, going EAST.