Question
When the boat stops, the driver throws an anchor overboard. The anchor becomes fixed on the bottom of the river and is attached to the boat with a rope. Assuming the boat holds its position, it can be determined that the force of the anchor rope is
A.
greater than the force of the water's current.
B.
equal to the force of the water's current.
C.
greater than the force of gravity.
D.
less than the force of gravity.
A.
greater than the force of the water's current.
B.
equal to the force of the water's current.
C.
greater than the force of gravity.
D.
less than the force of gravity.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
To determine the force of the anchor rope when the boat is stopped and holding its position, we can analyze the forces at play.
The anchor being fixed means that it is countering the force of the water's current acting on the boat by providing an opposing force through the rope. Since the boat is stationary relative to the riverbank, the net force acting on the boat must be zero. This means that:
1. The force exerted by the anchor rope (which is the tension in the rope) must balance the force exerted by the water's current acting on the boat.
2. The force of gravity acting on the boat (its weight) is vertical and is not directly countered by the tension in the anchor rope but rather is balanced by the buoyancy of the boat.
Given this reasoning, we can conclude that the force of the anchor rope is equal to the force of the water's current acting on the boat in the horizontal direction.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
**B. equal to the force of the water's current.**
The anchor being fixed means that it is countering the force of the water's current acting on the boat by providing an opposing force through the rope. Since the boat is stationary relative to the riverbank, the net force acting on the boat must be zero. This means that:
1. The force exerted by the anchor rope (which is the tension in the rope) must balance the force exerted by the water's current acting on the boat.
2. The force of gravity acting on the boat (its weight) is vertical and is not directly countered by the tension in the anchor rope but rather is balanced by the buoyancy of the boat.
Given this reasoning, we can conclude that the force of the anchor rope is equal to the force of the water's current acting on the boat in the horizontal direction.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
**B. equal to the force of the water's current.**