Boat Vector Physics Problem with River Current - Homework Help

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on a physics problem involving a boat's navigation across a river with a current. The boat travels at 3.0 m/s in still water and must be steered at an angle of 18 degrees upstream to counteract a current of 1.0 m/s. The second question addresses how far downstream the boat will drift while crossing a 1.0 km wide river, given its speed and the current. The key takeaway is that for every 3 meters the boat travels across, it is carried 1 meter downstream due to the current.

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Homework Statement


I have two questions but I need help with the second.
1. A boat can travel at 3.0ms-2 in still water and wishes to travel directly across a river with a current of 1.0ms-1. What direction upstream does the boat need to be steered.
I got the answer - the boat goes at an 18 \circ and at an direction which I don't know.
2. If the boat in question 4 heads directly across the river which is 1.0km wide how far downstream will it reach the opposite bank?

Homework Equations


Just Vectors.


The Attempt at a Solution


Well I attempted it.
I had a triangle with the 1.0km across another side.
I didn't really get that far.


Thanks
 
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If the boat travels at 3 m/s and the current is 1 m/s that means for every 3 meters the boat travels in the perpendicular direction, the current carries it 1 meter in the parallel direction (relative to the shores).

Can you go from there?
 


wait isn't that for the first question, i need help on the second question please. Maybe I wasn't clear on the question I have metioned it there, the first question is there because the second one belongs to the first.
Thanks.
 

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