Question

Tracy swims across a stream of width 40.0 m in 33.0 s when there is no current. She takes 59.0 s to cover the same distance when there is a current. Find the speed of the river current.

Answer 1

Magnitude of velocity, v = 40/33 m/s

Construct the relative velocity vectors which form a right-triangle. The angle α, the angle between her orientation and the line perpendicular to the shore, is given by
cos(α)= 33/59
sin(α)=sqrt(1-(33/59)²)
and finally,
the current speed, c = v sin(α)

Answer 2

.532 m/s

Answer 3

Bri is inncorect, the answer is aprx. 1.00251 m/s