Module 2 Lesson 2

Module 2—Motion in Two Dimensions

Reflect and Connect

Before a plane takes off from a Canadian airport, the pilot must file a flight plan with NAV CANADA (a private, non-profit corporation that provides air navigation services). The flight plan should include travel distances, estimated departure and arrival times, weather, stop locations, airport approach plans, and more. The amount of fuel required for the flight must also be indicated on the plan.

Based on what you have learned about vector addition and relative motion in the air, what does a pilot need to consider when determining the required fuel prior to take off? (Remember to add the answer to this question to your Physics 20 course folder.)

Module 2: Lesson 2 Assignment

Remember to submit the answer to Discuss to your teacher as part of your Module 2: Lesson 2 Assignment.

Discuss

Navigational displays in a commercial jet aircraft include the following three velocities:

air velocity, the plane’s velocity relative to the air it moves in
wind velocity, the air’s velocity relative to the ground
ground velocity, the plane’s velocity relative to the ground

Devices on the exterior of the plane are used to measure the air velocity. The global positioning system is used to measure the ground velocity. How is the wind’s velocity relative to the ground measured from the plane? Prepare to meet in the discussion area and work on developing a method for determining the wind velocity. You will likely use both the air velocity and ground velocity and a vector diagram in your method. Be prepared to explain what calculations must be made in order to display the wind velocity in the navigational controls.

Reflect on the Big Picture

In this lesson you learned how to add vectors using a more algebraic method. You continued working with the geometry of vectors and also used trigonometry and algebra. Did you find that drawing the addition of vectors helped you understand this algebraic approach? Did you enjoy this ”home renovation” approach of tearing things down and then rebuilding them?

To help you reflect on your learning experience in this lesson, complete at least one of the following activities:

Create a set of study questions that would help a new learner master the concepts and math for adding two vectors numerically.
Draw or paint a picture that contains the essence of this ”home renovation” method of adding vectors. Add a short written explanation of how your picture explains this lesson’s work.

Store your completed reflection in your Physics 20 course folder.

Module 2: Lesson 2 Assignment

Remember to submit the Module 2: Lesson 2 Assignment to your teacher.

For the four sports that you researched in Lesson 1, list the ways that their equipment can be analyzed using vectors or be better understood using vector analysis. Continue to store your work in your Physics 20 course folder. You will submit this research to your teacher at the end of Lesson 4 as part of your Module 2 Project.