Question

A motorboat heads due west at 15 m/s across a river that flows due south at 7.5 m/s. What is the magnitude and direction of the resultant velocity in m/s? Round off answer to 2 decimal places.​

Answer 1

16.77 m/s, 26.57° south of west

Step-by-step explanation:

The two velocities form a right triangle. Use Pythagorean theorem to find the magnitude of the resultant velocity.

v² = (-15 m/s)² + (-7.5 m/s)²

v = 16.77 m/s

Use trig to find the angle.

tan θ = ((-7.5 m/s) / (-15 m/s))

θ = 26.57° south of west