Arctic Research
Aim
A group of researchers set up a series of observation sites in the Arctic on a circumference of a circle of radius 50km.They need to set up a base camp so they can visit a different site each day.
Assumptions
These are assumptions that can be made.
1. Altitude
2. Weather conditions
3. Air resistance
4. Plane speed constant
5. Wind speed constant throughout/No gust/Same direction
6. Time for turning around
7. Time for taking off and landing
8. Rotation of the Earth
9. Weight of fuel
10. Thermal
11. Safety
12. Breakdowns (damaged plane)
13. Plane could get damaged and not fly as well as before, result in less speed and longer journey time.
Model 1
To start with a simple model would be for a plane to fly from A to B with no wind speed and ignoring all the assumptions as stated above.
A 50 km B
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Plane = 100 mph Wind speed = 0
= 100*1.6
= 160 kmh-1
Time = Distance/Speed
= 50/160
= 18.75 minutes
For the whole journey A to B then back to A would be:
Time from A to B multiplied by 2. 2*18.75 = 37.5 minutes
Equation
Time (A to B to A) = 2(Distance/Speed)
OR
Time (A to B to A) = Total Distance/Speed