A rowboat is heading across a river at 2.4 m/s east. The current of the river is 1.7 m/s south. What is the rowboat's resultant velocity?

Question

A rowboat is heading across a river at 2.4 m/s east.  The current of the river is 1.7 m/s south.  What is the rowboat's resultant velocity?

Steve · Answer

Draw the two vectors. The resultant speed is the hypotenuse of the triangle. That is, √(2.4^2 + 1.7^2) = 2.94 m/s The direction is arctan(1.7/2.4) = E35.3°S