Question

Problem set 3 » (8) river swimming a swimmer heads directly across a river, swimming at her maximum speed of 1.30 m/s relative to the water. She arrives at a point 48.0 m downstream from the point directly across the river, 64.0 m wide. What is the speed of the river current?

Answer 1

Velocity of swimmer across river = 1.30 m/s

Distance arrived downstream = 48 m

Width of river = 64 m

Time taken to cross river =
`(Width of river)/(Velocity across river)`

=
`(64)/(1.30) =49.23 s`

Speed of river current =
`(Distance arrived downstream)/(Time taken to cross river)`

=
`(48)/(49.23) = 0.975 m/s`

So, the river is flowing at a speed 0.975 m/s.