Final answer:
When two boats approach each other head on, they must follow maritime navigation rules to pass port to port. Both vessels should alter their course to starboard to safely pass each other, similar to calculating resultant vectors in physics.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two boats are approaching each other head on, it is essential that they follow navigation rules to avoid a collision. In nautical terms, this scenario is similar to two vectors, such as Vboat and Vriver, approaching each other. In physics, the head-to-tail method would be used to calculate the resulting total velocity vector when considering directions and magnitudes of both vectors.
In the context of boats, specifically, these rules are part of what is known as 'Rules of the Road' or COLREGs (Collision Regulations), which dictate that both boats should pass port to port, or left to left side of each other. This means that each vessel should alter its course to starboard (right) so that they can safely pass without coming into contact. Understanding the velocity relative to a set point, such as the observer on a boat or shore, is crucial for acknowledging how objects move in relation to one another, and applying this understanding can help to navigate safely in a head-on situation.