1.If a river is flowing south at 4 m/s and you swim straight across (i.e. east)

Question

1.If a river is flowing south at 4 m/s and you swim straight across (i.e. east) at 2 m/s; admittedly, you're going to drift a bit south. That said, calculate that distance that you drifted south from your starting point. The river is 16m wide.

2.If a river is flowing south at 3 m/s and swim at an angle of 30 degrees north of directly east at 1 m/s, how far did you drift up or down stream from your starting point once you reach the other side? The river is 10m wide.

3.If a river is flowing north at 2 m/s and you can swim at 4 m/s, what angle should you swim at such that you arrive directly across the river (i.e. no drift north or south from starting point on other side)? The river is 10 m wide.

Explanation / Answer

1)

First solve for the time it takes you to reach the other side. Let south be the y-direction and the direction across the river be the x-direction.

x = vx t

10m = 2×t

thus, t = 5s

Now, use the time you are in the water to find how far the river has carried you north.

y = vy t

y = 4 ×5

y = 20m (ans)

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