How Do You Calculate the Angle to Reach a Moving Target in a River?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the angle required for a boat to reach a moving swimmer in a river. The swimmer is moving downstream, and the boat is positioned at the top corner of the river. The scenario includes specific velocities for both the swimmer and the boat, as well as distances from the edges of the river.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the challenge of incorporating the swimmer's movement into their calculations. Some express confusion about how to account for time, angle, and distance due to the swimmer's motion. Others attempt to set up equations based on their understanding of kinematics but struggle with rearranging them to solve for the angle.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their attempts and expressing uncertainty about their approaches. Some have suggested posting diagrams to clarify their reasoning, while others are seeking feedback on their calculations and interpretations of the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the lack of initial solutions provided with the homework question, which adds to their confusion. There is also mention of the imposed time constraints, which may be affecting their ability to work through the problem effectively.

st0nersteve
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I was given this question as a study question but no solution provided. I am unsure how to solve the question.

Homework Statement



A man is swimming 3m/s down a river. The man is 50m from the edge and 1000m from the top of the river. If I am in a boat at the top corner of the river traveling 10m/s. what angle should i leave to reach the man.


The Attempt at a Solution


Currently i have no solution as to how to solve this equation. I am lost as to how to including movement of the swimming man into the equation
 
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What do you feel? How can you start? Show some attempt first.
 
Ive made no attempt because i have no clue what do do.
the formulas i have are the basic
v=u +at
v(2) = u(2) + 2as
s=ut + 1/2at(2)
Im lost because i don't know time, the angle or the distance because of the swimming guy moving.

Tried to find the velcoity of cos (downstream) by making the swimming guy 0m/s but then i got confused because that would make it 7cos(theta) but there's no side movemnt by the guy so it should still be 10sin(theta) across.

so i tried to sub them together in one equation but it didnit work out and I am not completely sure how to rearrange to solve for (theta).

my mess of working out was something like.
s(length) = ut + 1/2at(2)
1000=7cos(theta)xt + 0 50 = 10sin(theta) x t
t = 50/ 10 sin(theta)
therfore 1000 = 200 * 6cos(theta) / 8sin(theta)

Its completely screwed up i know. I am lost and my head hurts
 
Post a diagram and then explain your attempt.
 
the scenario is the first diagram.

what i was thinking was diagram two. make the swimmer 0m/s. The only acting force for him is along the adjacent side, so the adjacent velocity will have to be 10cos[tex]\Theta[/tex] minus the 3m/s of the swimmer.

s = ut + 1/2at^2

Adjacent side Opposite side
50 = 10sin[tex]\Theta[/tex]*t + 1/2*0*t^2 1000=(10cos[tex]\Theta[/tex] - 3)*t
50 = 10sin[tex]\Theta[/tex]*t + 0 t= 1000/(10cos[tex]\Theta[/tex] - 3)
T=50/(10sin0[tex]\Theta[/tex])

Therefore: 50 = 10sin[tex]\Theta[/tex]*(1000/(10cos[tex]\Theta[/tex] - 3))
50 = 1000*(10sin[tex]\Theta[/tex] / (10cos[tex]\Theta[/tex] - 3)

If this is anywhere near the right track I am lost here.
if that minus three wasnt there i know that 10sin0/10cos0 = 10tan0

hopefully you can help me because I am running out of time and don't know how to solve this
 

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