A canoe has a velocity of 0.40m/s southeast relative to the earth. The canoe is on a river that is flowing 0.50m/s east relative to the earth. Find the velocity (magnitude and direction ) of the canoe relative to the river.
Discussion:
We apply the relative velocity relation. The relative velocities are (\vec{v_{CE}}), the canoe relative to the earth, (\vec{v_{RE}}), the velocity of the river with respect to Earth and (\vec{v_{CR}}), the velocity of the canoe relative to the earth.
$$\vec{v_{CE}}=\vec{v_{CR}}+\vec{v_{RE}}$$
Hence $$
\vec{v_{CR}}=\vec{v_{CE}}-\vec{v_{RE}}$$
The velocity components of (
\vec{v_{CR}}) are $$ -0.5+\frac{0.4}{\sqrt{2}}=-0.217m/s$$( in the east direction)
Now, for the velocity component in the south direction
$$ \frac{0.4}{\sqrt{2}}=0.28$$ (in the south direction)
Now, the magnitude of the velocity of canoe relative to river $$ \sqrt{(-0.217)^2+(0.28)^2}=0.356m/s$$
If we consider (\theta) as the angle between the canoe and the river,the direction of the canoe with respect to the river can be given by
$$ \theta=52.5^\circ$$ ( in south west direction)
Why is the canoe south of West relative to the river
If figure was considered it would hav cleared more