Question

a boy capable of swimming 2.1m/a in still water is swimming in a river with a 1.8 m/a current. At what angle must he swim in order to end up directly opposite his starting point?

Answer 1

The boy must swim at an angle of 59°northwest to get to a position directly opposite his starting point.

Step-by-step explanation:

To get to a point directly opposite his starting point, the boy must travel at an angle x, in a direction northwest of his starting point. The speed of the boy and the speed of the river current forms a right-angled triangle with an an opposite side of 1.8 m/a and a hypotenuse of 2.1 m/a having an angle x.

Sin x = opp/ hyp

Sin x = 1.8/2.1

x = sin⁻¹ (1.8/2.10

x = 58.99

x = 59°

Therefore, the boy must swim at an angle of 59° in the northwesterly direction to get to a position directly opposite his starting point.