Question

a pigeon is flying north at 40 mph, but the wind is blowing $20^\circ$ south of west at 18 mph. which vector diagram can be used to find the pigeons resultant vector?

Explanation:

1. Identify the pigeon's velocity vector: It flies north, so this is a vertical upward (red) vector.
2. Identify the wind vector: It blows 20° south of west, so this is a vector pointing to the upper-left (westward) direction with a slight downward (southward) angle (blue vector).
3. To find the resultant vector using the triangle method, place the tail of the wind vector at the head of the pigeon's velocity vector. The resultant vector connects the tail of the pigeon's vector to the head of the wind vector.
4. Match this to the options: The first diagram has the northward red vector, the blue wind vector pointing 20° south of west from the head of the red vector, and the resultant connecting the start to the end.

Answer:

A. <The first vector diagram (leftmost diagram with northward red vector, blue vector angled west-south from its head, and resultant vector)>