How Does a Rowboat's Angle Affect Its Path Across a River with a Current?

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The discussion focuses on calculating the upstream distance a rowboat travels while crossing a river with a current. The rowboat moves at a velocity of 3.30 mi/h at an angle of 62.5 degrees north of west, while the river's eastward current is 1.25 mi/h. The calculations show that the boat reaches the opposite shore after approximately 0.210 hours, resulting in an upstream distance of 0.106 miles (or 560 feet). The confusion arises from the interaction of the boat's velocity and the river's current, leading to questions about vector components and their effects on the boat's path.

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A rowboat crosses a river with a velocity of 3.30 mi/h at an angle of 62.5 degrees north of west relative to the water. The river is 0.505 mi wide and carries an eastward current of 1.25 mi/h. How far upstream is the boat when it reaches the opposite shore?

Drew a staight line down in quadrant two and made a right triangle. Then: tan(62.5°) multiplied by 1.25 mi/h = 2.40 mi/h.
Then figure the time out by distance of 0.505 mi divided by 2.40 mi/h = .210 h.
Then figure upstream at the opposite shore by: (0.505 mi) x (.210 h) = .106 mi = 560.0 feet.

I'm confused because I have a vector pointing east and one pointing north at 62.5° north of west and I feel like I'm ignoring the east pointing vector and that I need to do something else. I don't understand WHY though.
 
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Drew a staight line down in quadrant two and made a right triangle. Then: tan(62.5°) multiplied by 1.25 mi/h = 2.40 mi/h.

This is wrong. How can the current alone be causing you to travel faster than the speed of the current itself?
 

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