Calculating Resultant Velocity for Long Distance Swimmers

Thread starter tychostar
Start date Nov 8, 2010
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Resultant Velocity

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To calculate the resultant velocity of a long-distance swimmer swimming at 2 mph at 30 degrees south of west, and a 5 mph current flowing at 10 degrees north of east, the vector components must be broken down. The swimmer's velocity can be expressed as v_r = 2 cos(30°) x-hat + 2 sin(30°) y-hat. The current's velocity is represented as v_c = 5 cos(10°) x-hat + 5 sin(10°) y-hat. By adding the x and y components of both vectors, the resultant velocity can be determined. This method allows for a clear understanding of how the swimmer's speed and direction are affected by the current.

Nov 8, 2010

tychostar

A long distance swimmers starts out swimming a steady 2mph at 30 degrees south of west. A 5mph current is flowing at 10 degrees north of east.

What is the swimmers resultant velocity?

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Nov 9, 2010

Bhumble

Just break this into vectorial components, add like components, then recombine.

v r-hat = v cos @ x-hat + v sin @ y-hat

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