Question

To cross the river a swimmer chooses the direction minimizing the amount of time spent in the water. The swimmer swims at a constant speed of 2.00 m/s. The river is flowing uniformly between the parallel banks 73.0 m apart at a constant flow speed of 8.00 m/s. Find the distance (in meters) downstream from the starting point where the swimmer will reach the opposite shore of the river.

Answer 1

304 meters downstream

Step-by-step explanation:

The given parameters are;

The speed of the swimmer = 2.00 m/s

The width of the river = 73.0 m

The speed of the river = 8.00 m/s

Therefore;

The direction of the swimmer's resultant velocity = tan⁻¹(8/2) ≈ 75.96° downstream

The distance downstream the swimmer will reach the opposite shore = 4 × 73 = 304 m downstream

The distance downstream the swimmer will reach the opposite shore = 304 m downstream