Refer to Figure 3.43, which shows a boat trying to go straight across the river. Let us calculate the magnitude and direction of the boat's velocity relative to an observer on the shore, v_tot. The velocity of the boat, V_boat, is 0.75 m/s in the y-direction relative to the river and the velocity of the river, V_river, is 1.20 m/s to the right.

Strategy

We start by choosing a coordinate system with its -axis parallel to the velocity of the river, as shown in Figure 3.43. Because the boat is directed straight toward the other shore, its velocity relative to the water is parallel to the -axis and perpendicular to the velocity of the river. Thus, we can add the two velocities by using the equations

Transcribed Image Text:

Vboat = 0.75 m/s YA Vboat X Vriver = 1.2 m/s Vot Viver