An oil spill on the ocean is sometimes modeled as having a velocity that has two components: a wind induced velocity that is 3% of the true wind velocity and an independent tidal velocity Vtidal. The tidal velocity is 3.0 km/hr due north and V wind = 40 km/hr 20 degrees north of east. In six hours, how far is the oil predicted to move in the northerly direction?

1 answer

V = 3km/h[90o] + 40km/h[20o]

Y = 3 + 40*sin20 = 16.7km/h = Vertical
or Northerly component.

d = r*t = 16.7km/h * 6h = 100.1 km.