Boat in Current

A boat in current is a good example of relative velocity.

Calculation

Index

Relative velocity
 
HyperPhysics***** Mechanics R Nave
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Boat in Current: Resultant Speed and Bearing

Boat in current as example of relative velocity. Assume the rower heads straight across the river and is carried downstream by the current.

Since the velocities form a right triangle, any velocity can be found from the triangle relationships if the other two are known.


Velocity unit
If the rowing speed is =
and the current speed is =
then the resultant speed is =
at an angle θ = ° downstream
Alternate calculations: Rowing speed Speed of current
Index

Relative velocity
 
HyperPhysics***** Mechanics R Nave
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