What is the resultant speed and resultant angle of the boat?

AI Thread Summary
To determine the resultant speed and angle of a rowboat crossing a river, one must consider the boat's speed of 5.39 m/s and the river's current of 2.91 m/s. Visualizing the velocities as vectors can simplify the problem, often leading to a Pythagorean triangle setup. This approach helps in calculating the resultant speed and angle effectively. The discussion emphasizes the importance of drawing a diagram to understand the relationship between the boat's velocity and the river's flow. Ultimately, the original poster successfully solved the problem after applying this method.
physicsgurl12
Messages
184
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A rowboat starts across river. If the average speed of the boat is 5.39 m/s and the river is flowing at a speed of 2.91 m/s, what is the resultant speed and resultant angle of the boat?

i know this is super basic but i havn't done this type of problem since the beginning of the year.

Homework Equations


v=d/t


The Attempt at a Solution


vi=o m/s
0m/s=d/2.91m/s
d=0m
 
Physics news on Phys.org


Instead of trying to do this purely with equations set up a picture of what's going on. Lay out the respective velocities as vectors and see if you can work from there.
 


Is the boat trying to go straight across or is it just going to go straight in reference to the water?
 


Clever-Name said:
Instead of trying to do this purely with equations set up a picture of what's going on. Lay out the respective velocities as vectors and see if you can work from there.

so i drew a picture but I am not really getting what you mean by laying out the respective velocities as vectors
 


Are you familiar with free body diagrams (while usually taught using forces you can apply the same principle to velocity vectors)? Here is my interpretation of the question as a picture:
 

Attachments

  • River.jpg
    River.jpg
    9.7 KB · Views: 485


These thing usually work out to Pythagorean triangles. Think of it that way and see if you can get an answer
 


mburt said:
These thing usually work out to Pythagorean triangles. Think of it that way and see if you can get an answer

thanks for the help. i got it right! :)
 
Back
Top