How far downstream has the boat moved?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a boat crossing a river while being affected by the current. The subject area includes concepts of relative velocity and displacement in kinematics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss calculating the time taken for the boat to cross the river and how to determine the downstream displacement based on that time. There is confusion regarding the correct mathematical operations to apply.

Discussion Status

The discussion includes attempts to clarify the calculations needed for the problem. Some participants have provided guidance on finding the time and displacement, while others express uncertainty about the correct approach.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of specific speeds for both the river current and the boat, as well as the width of the river, which are critical to solving the problem. Participants are navigating through the assumptions related to these values.

asloudascanbe
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[SOLVED] How far downstream has the boat moved?

I can't figure out the last part of this question. It's probably very simple and I'm just over looking it. The answers in part A are right. I just don't know how to get part B.

A river flows due east at 1.80 m/s. A boat crosses the river from the south shore to the north shore by maintaining a constant velocity of 9.0 m/s due north relative to the water.

(a) What is the velocity of the boat relative to shore?
9.178 m/s
78.69° (north of east)


(b) If the river is 400 m wide, how far downstream has the boat moved by the time it reaches the north shore?
m
 
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1. Find out the time the boat takes to traverse the 400 meters in the northern direction, at speed 9 m/s

2. Then find out the boat's (eastern) dowstream displacement in the same time .
 
So to fine the time it takes the boat to go 400 meters at a speed of 9 m/s. I divided 400/9.0 and got 44.4444s.

Then I thought to find the downstream displacement given that time you would just divide the 44.444s/(1.8m/s)? But that's wrong and I don't know what else to do?
 
What is distance?

Velocity MULTIPLIED WITH time!
 
SOLVED thanks...sorry for some reason I thought you divided it.
 

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