Finding Angle of Man Walking on Ship Relative to Water

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the angle at which a man walking diagonally on a moving ship is perceived relative to the water. The ship moves at a speed of Vs = 5 m/s, while the man walks at Vm = 2 m/s at an angle of theta = 22 degrees to the ship's direction. The resultant speed of the man relative to the water is determined to be 5.749 m/s. To find the angle of his path relative to the water, one must combine the velocities of the ship and the man using vector addition and analyze the components.

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Homework Statement



A ship cruises forward at Vs=5 m/s relative to the water. On deck, a man walks diagonally toward the bow such that his path forms an angle theta = 22 degrees with a line perpendicular to the boat's direction of motion. He walks at Vm = 2 m/s relative to the boat

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/4973/boatum7.th.jpg

The speed he walks relative to the water is 5.749 m/s.

At what angle to his intended path does the man walk with respect to the water? Answer in degrees.

Homework Equations



I was thinking maybe of using Tan-1(opposite/adjacent)
or some thing to that effect

The Attempt at a Solution


Tan-1( but what is the opposite and adjacent?

Would it be 22 degrees? But 22 degrees is perpendicular to the boat's direction.
hmmm help please
 
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First express the total velocity of the man by adding the velocity of the boat to his velocity relative to the boat. Break the two vectors into xy components and add them. Then we can talk about angles.
 

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