Final answer:
The boat's direction will change due to the opposing winds blowing from opposite directions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The boat's direction will change due to the opposing winds blowing from opposite directions. The wind blowing due South will push the boat towards the North, while the wind blowing due North will push the boat towards the South. As a result, the boat will experience a net force towards the South, causing its direction to change. No, the boat's direction will not change. The forces exerted by the wind spirits are in opposite directions but cancel each other out horizontally. The North and South winds create equal and opposite forces, resulting in a net force of zero along the East-West axis. The boat will continue sailing due West as the forces do not cause a change in its horizontal velocity. This scenario aligns with Newton's first law of motion, stating that an object remains at rest or in uniform motion unless acted upon by a net external force.