- #1
crazyog
- 50
- 0
Hi!
I'm having trouble with some relative velocity problems.
Example A)
A boy wishes to row across a river in the shortest possible time. He can row at 2 m/s in still water and the river is flowing at 1 m/s. At which angle (theta) should he point the bow (front) of his boat.
I tried to set up a triangle and use a trig function...but I am not getting the correct answer.
The book says that the answer is 90 degrees.
I believe the relevant equation is velocity of the boat with respect to Earth = velocity of the boat with respect to water + velocity of the water respect to earth
V(be)=V(bw)+V(we)
and I solve for v(bw) since they give me 2 m/s (boat with respect to Earth ?) and 1 m/s (water with repsect to earth)
Then I tried to to inverse sin of (2/ sqrt(3)) but the answer is def. not 90.
I'm having trouble with some relative velocity problems.
Example A)
A boy wishes to row across a river in the shortest possible time. He can row at 2 m/s in still water and the river is flowing at 1 m/s. At which angle (theta) should he point the bow (front) of his boat.
I tried to set up a triangle and use a trig function...but I am not getting the correct answer.
The book says that the answer is 90 degrees.
I believe the relevant equation is velocity of the boat with respect to Earth = velocity of the boat with respect to water + velocity of the water respect to earth
V(be)=V(bw)+V(we)
and I solve for v(bw) since they give me 2 m/s (boat with respect to Earth ?) and 1 m/s (water with repsect to earth)
Then I tried to to inverse sin of (2/ sqrt(3)) but the answer is def. not 90.