Relative Velocity: How Far Will the Boat Move Downstream Without Correction?

In summary, relative velocity is the velocity of an object in relation to another object, taking into account the motion of both objects. It is calculated by subtracting the velocity of one object from the velocity of the other object and can be negative if the objects are moving in opposite directions. The main difference between relative velocity and absolute velocity is that relative velocity considers the motion of both objects, while absolute velocity is measured from a fixed reference point. Relative velocity is used in various real life situations, such as navigation, astronomy, transportation, and sports.
  • #1
AimlessWander
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Homework Statement



A river flows with a velocity of 3 m/s east. The river is 300 m wide. A boat is moving 10 m/s due north. If the river flow is not corrected for, how far will the boat have moved downstream by the time is reaches the far shore?

Homework Equations


Trigonometry and kinematic equations


The Attempt at a Solution


90 m?
 
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  • #2
Cool - how did you arrive at that figure?
 

Related to Relative Velocity: How Far Will the Boat Move Downstream Without Correction?

1. What is relative velocity?

Relative velocity is the velocity of an object in relation to another object. It takes into account the motion of both objects and is measured from the perspective of one of the objects.

2. How is relative velocity calculated?

Relative velocity is calculated by subtracting the velocity of one object from the velocity of the other object. This can be done using vector addition or by using the formula Vr = V1 - V2, where Vr is the relative velocity, V1 is the velocity of the first object, and V2 is the velocity of the second object.

3. What is the difference between relative velocity and absolute velocity?

The main difference between relative velocity and absolute velocity is that relative velocity takes into account the motion of both objects, while absolute velocity is measured from a fixed reference point and does not consider the motion of other objects.

4. Can relative velocity ever be negative?

Yes, relative velocity can be negative. This occurs when the two objects are moving in opposite directions. In this case, the relative velocity will have a negative value, indicating that the objects are moving away from each other.

5. How is relative velocity used in real life situations?

Relative velocity is used in various real life situations, such as in navigation, astronomy, and transportation. It is also used in sports, such as calculating the speed of a baseball in relation to the pitcher's hand or the speed of a swimmer in relation to the water.

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