Question

a boat heads due east across a 100. m-wide stream with a velocity of 20.0 m/s. the stream is flowing from north to south at a rate of 5.00 what is the resultant speed of the boat?

Answer 1

To find the resultant velocity, we will use the Pythagorean theorem

V_eastwards = 20.0 m/s

V_stream = 5.00 m/s

V_eastwards_relative_to_stream = V_eastwards - V_stream = 20.0 m/s - 5.00 m/s = 15.0 m/s

Next, we can use the Pythagorean theorem to find the resultant velocity of the boat:

V_resultant = sqrt(V_eastwards_relative_to_stream^2 + V_stream^2)

V_resultant = sqrt(15^2 + 5^2) = sqrt(225 + 25) = sqrt(250) = 15.81 m/s

So the resultant speed of the boat is approximately 15.81 m/s.