Question

A boat travels north across a river at a velocity of 22 meters/second with respect to the water. The river's velocity is 2.2 meters/second to the east. What is the resultant velocity of the boat, as measured from the land?

Answer 1

The magnitude of the resultant is

         √ (22² + 2.2²)  =  √ (484 + 4.84)  =  √488.84  =  22.11 m/s .

The direction of the resultant is

         tan⁻¹(22N / 2.2E)  =  tan⁻¹(10)  =  5.71° east of north .