Mom of Special Needs High School Student NEEDS HELP

[kuliraga]

An example of the work he's trying to do is:


1. A stream's current has a velocity of 10 km/hr. You and a friend are trying to paddle upstream at 6 kn/hr. What is the resulting velocity.



2. My problem is that I cannot find the formula or equation that he needs to figure out the problem.



3. There has been no attempt at a solution.


My son is 14, Autistic, and a freshman in high school. It's been seventeen years since I took physics and I just don't remember the information well enough to help him. He's pretty savant-ish when it comes to math. If he has the formula, he can do the work.

Please help us.

Christina

 

[CoverlessTech]

Draw a picture, it always helps when doing physics problems.

Basically you have a stream traveling down at 10km/hr(we well call it -10 km/hr because it is going down) and you are going up at 6 km/hr, the resulting velocity would be the sum of the 2. So -10 km/hr + 6 km/hr = -4 km/hr or 4 km/hr [with the stream].

 

[kuliraga]

so, basically it's this formula:

velocity relative to x = velocity of a relative to x + velocity of b relative to x

except when you have velocities in opposite directions one of the values is negative. How do you decide which one is negative?

 

[CoverlessTech]

You just pick really, unless it tells you the direction the stream is traveling(N, E, S, W, left or right). If it just says there is a stream you just pick. Or you can just subtract the 2 positive values for the same result.

 

[Astronuc]

Welcome to PhysicsForums, Christina

Velocities are vector quantities (magnitude and direction).

Is 6 kn/hr supposed to be 6 km/hr? or is kn = knots. There's a difference.

Upstream is opposite downstream, so one could take downstream as negative and adding the velocities, -10 km/hr + 6 km/hr = - 4 km/hr, so the net vecocity of the craft is 4 km/hr downstream.

The significance of the + or - signs has to do with orientation.

This site might be of use - http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html

Specifically for the current problem:

Vectors - http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/vect.html

Boat in current - http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/boatc.html

Velocity - http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/vel2.html

Relative velocity - http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/relmot.html

 

[kuliraga]

Welcome to PhysicsForums, Christina

Velocities are vector quantities (magnitude and direction).

Is 6 kn/hr supposed to be 6 km/hr? or is kn = knots. There's a difference.

Upstream is opposite downstream, so one could take downstream as negative and adding the velocities, -10 km/hr + 6 km/hr = - 4 km/hr, so the net vecocity of the craft is 4 km/hr downstream.

The significance of the + or - signs has to do with orientation.

This site might be of use - http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html

Specifically for the current problem:

Vectors - http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/vect.html

Boat in current - http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/boatc.html

Velocity - http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/vel2.html

Relative velocity - http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/relmot.html

Thank you thank you thank you! both of you have been very helpful, but these links are priceless ... just what I needed to be able to help him with his work. I can't tell you how grateful I am. Thanks again!

 

[Astronuc]

I can't tell you how grateful I am. Thanks again!

You just did, and you are welcome. Good luck with your son.