How Does River Flow Affect a Swimmer's Resultant Velocity?

In summary, relative motion in water is the movement of an object in relation to a body of water, taking into account both the object's own motion and the motion of the water. The density and shape of an object greatly impact its relative motion in water, with denser objects sinking and more streamlined objects experiencing less resistance. The main difference between relative motion in water and air is the density and viscosity of the medium, with water being more resistant. The speed of an object can also greatly affect its relative motion in water, with faster objects experiencing more drag and resistance.
  • #1
dance_sg
113
0
1.A girl can swim 4.5m/s. If she tries to swim across a river flowing at 3.8m/s, what is her resultant velocity?



2. cosine, sine, tangent, v=vf -v i



3. would i just subtract 3.8m/s from 4.5m/s in order to find the velocity?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Note, she is swimming ACROSS a river, not against the stream.
[tex]\vec V_{12}= \vec V_1-\vec V_2[/tex]
 
  • #3
So you would add the two numbers rather then subtract them??
 
  • #4
oh oops. i meant to say that i would subtact 4.5 from 3.8 instead and it would be negative?
 
  • #5
vector addition.
 

1) What is relative motion in water?

Relative motion in water refers to the movement of an object in relation to a body of water. It takes into account the object's own motion as well as the motion of the water it is moving through.

2) How does the density of water affect relative motion?

The density of water greatly affects relative motion. Objects with a higher density than water will sink, while objects with a lower density will float. This can also impact the speed and direction of an object's motion in water.

3) How does the shape of an object impact relative motion in water?

The shape of an object can greatly impact its relative motion in water. Objects with a more streamlined shape will experience less resistance and will be able to move through water more easily compared to objects with a larger surface area.

4) What is the difference between relative motion in water and relative motion in air?

The main difference between relative motion in water and air is the density and viscosity of the medium. Water is denser and more viscous than air, so objects will experience more resistance and slower motion in water compared to air.

5) How does the speed of an object impact its relative motion in water?

The speed of an object can greatly impact its relative motion in water. As an object moves faster, it will experience more drag and resistance from the water, making it more difficult to maintain its speed. However, the shape and density of the object can also play a role in its ability to maintain speed in water.

Similar threads

  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
5
Views
971
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
5
Views
7K
Replies
10
Views
4K
Replies
6
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
9
Views
5K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
16
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
14
Views
2K
Back
Top