Final answer:
To avoid a collision, vessels heading toward each other should calculate their resulting paths using vector addition and adhere to maritime navigation rules by altering course, which can involve passing port-to-port and reducing speed, while taking into account external forces and Newton's third law.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two vessels are heading toward each other, the strategy for avoiding a collision involves calculating the paths and velocities of both vessels to determine the necessary course of action. For instance, if dealing with a collision in a physics problem, one may use vectors to represent the velocities of each vessel. Vector addition would then be employed to find the resultant vector that would represent the total velocity of each vessel in the presence of another external force, like a river current, using methods such as the head-to-tail method depicted in figures with analogous situations.
In terms of safety and navigation, maritime rules prescribe that vessels should alter their course in such a way as to avoid collision, often requiring them to pass port-to-port (left side to left side). Additionally, other measures like reducing speed or using sound signals could be required, depending on the particular situation. Knowledge of Newton's third law is also relevant because, in the context of the question, it helps to understand how a vessel's propulsion system might interact with the water to facilitate a change in direction.