Canoeing: Speed Relative to Water and Shore

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the speed of two canoes relative to the water and shore. One canoeist paddles upstream at -1.3 m/s, while the other paddles downstream at 2.9 m/s. To find the speed of the water relative to the shore, the two velocities are added together and averaged. The speeds of the canoes relative to the water can be determined by subtracting the water's speed from each canoe's observed speed. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding relative motion in this context.
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I'm having trouble with this can anyone help me?
Two canoeists in identical canoes exert the same effort paddling and hence maintain the same speed relative to the water. One paddles directly upstream (and moves upstream),
whereas the other paddles directly down-stream. With downstream as the positive
direction, an observer on shore determines the velocities of the two canoes to be −1.3 m/s
and 2.9 m/s, respectively.
What is the speed of the water relative toshore? Answer in units of m/s.

What is the speed of the first canoe relativeto the water? Answer in units of m/s.

What is the speed of the second canoe relative to the water? Answer in units of m/s.
 
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Sounds like homework to me.

Have you drawn any diagrams? Made any attempt at the problem?
 
i got the speed of the water relative to the shore by adding the two numbers together and then divided by two to get the speed relative to the shore.
what i don't understand is how you figure out the speeds of the canoes
 
would i subract the speed of the water from the velocities given in the original equation?
 

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