Neco 2021 Physics Question 2

Practice essay / theory question 2 from the 2021 Neco Physics examination. This question covers Scalars and Vectors .

Neco 2021 Physics Essay / Theory
Topic: Scalars and Vectors
Question 2 NECO • 2021 • PHYSICS • essay

A boat can travel at a speed of 12.0 m s⁻¹ in still water. It attempts to cross a river that is 150 m wide. The river flows downstream at a uniform speed of 4.0 m s⁻¹. The captain decides to aim the boat at an angle θ upstream of the directly opposite bank in order to reach a point directly opposite the starting point.

Question Parts

( a )
Draw a vector diagram showing the velocity of the boat relative to water, the velocity of the water (river current), and the resultant velocity of the boat relative to the ground. Label all vectors and indicate the angle θ.
( b )
Derive an expression for the angle θ that the captain must maintain so that the resultant displacement is directly across the river (i.e., no downstream drift).
( c )
Using the expression from part (b), calculate the required angle θ (to the nearest degree) and the time taken to cross the river.
( d )
If the captain instead steers the boat directly towards the opposite bank (θ = 0°), determine the downstream displacement of the boat when it reaches the opposite bank. State the magnitude of the resultant ground speed and the total time taken for the crossing in this case.

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About This Question

This is Neco 2021 Physics Question 2. It is one of the essay questions from the 2021 Neco Physics examination.

The question covers Scalars and Vectors .

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