Problem : A person can swim at 1 m/s in still water. He swims to cross a river of width 200 m to a point exactly opposite to his/her initial position. If the water stream in river flows at 2 m/s in a linear direction, then find the time taken (in seconds) to reach the opposite point.

Solution : Let the direction of stream be x-direction and the direction across stream be y-direction. Let us also denote person with “A” and water stream with “B”.

To reach the point across, the person has to swim upstream at an angle such that the velocity of the person with respect to ground( v A v A ) is across the direction of water stream. The situation is shown in the figure.

Figure 1

Relative velocity

Here,

Speed of the person (A) with respect to stream (B) : v A B = 1 m / s Speed of water stream (B) with respect to ground : v B = 2 m / s Speed of the person (A) with respect to ground : v A = ? d = 200 m Speed of the person (A) with respect to stream (B) : v A B = 1 m / s Speed of water stream (B) with respect to ground : v B = 2 m / s Speed of the person (A) with respect to ground : v A = ? d = 200 m

From the ΔOAB,

OQ 2 = OP 2 + PQ 2 ⇒ OP = √ { OQ 2 - PQ 2 } ⇒ t = d √ { OB 2 - AB 2 } OQ 2 = OP 2 + PQ 2 ⇒ OP = √ { OQ 2 - PQ 2 } ⇒ t = d √ { OB 2 - AB 2 }

It is clear from the denominator of the expression that for finite time, OB > AB. From the values as given in the question, OB < AB and the denominator becomes square root of negative number. The result is interpreted to mean that the physical event associated with the expression is not possible.The swimmer, therefore, can not reach the point, which is exactly opposite to his position. The speed of the swimmer should be greater than that of the stream to reach the point lying exactly opposite.

Note that we had explained the same situation in the module on the subject with the help of the value of "sinθ", which can not be greater than 1. We have taken a different approach here to illustrate the same limitation of the swimmer's ability to cross the water stream, showing that the interpretation is consistent and correct.

Problem : The direction of water stream in a river is along x – direction of the coordinate system attached to the ground. A swimmer swims across the river with a velocity ( 0.8 i + 1.4 j 0.8 i + 1.4 j ) m/s, as seen from the ground. If the river is 70 m wide, how long (in seconds) does he take to reach the river bank on the other side ?

Solution : We recognize here that the given velocity represents the resultant velocity ( v A v A ) of the swimmer (A). The time to reach the river bank on the other side is a function of component velocity in y-direction.

Figure 2

Relative velocity

Here,

v x = 0.8 m / s v y = 1.4 m / s v x = 0.8 m / s v y = 1.4 m / s

t = Width of the river v y t = 70 1.4 = 50 s t = Width of the river v y t = 70 1.4 = 50 s

Problem : A person can swim at a speed “u” in still water. He points across the direction of water stream to cross a river. The water stream flows with a speed “v” in a linear direction. Find the direction in which he actually swims with respect to the direction of stream.

Solution : Let the direction of stream be x-direction and the direction across stream be y-direction. Let us also denote person with "A" and water stream with “B”.

Here,

Speed of the person (A) with respect to stream (B) : v A B = u Speed of stream (B) with respect to ground : v B = v Speed of the person (A) with respect to ground : v C = ? Speed of the person (A) with respect to stream (B) : v A B = u Speed of stream (B) with respect to ground : v B = v Speed of the person (A) with respect to ground : v C = ?

Using equation, v AB = v A - v B v AB = v A - v B ,

⇒ v A = v B + v AB ⇒ v A = v B + v AB

From the figure,

Figure 3

Relative velocity

tan θ' = v A B v B = u v tan θ' = v A B v B = u v

The direction in which he actually swims with respect to the direction of stream is

θ ‘ = tan - 1 ( u v ) θ ‘ = tan - 1 ( u v )

Problem : A person can swim at a speed 1 m/s in still water. He swims perpendicular to the direction of water stream, flowing at the speed 2 m/s. If the linear distance covered during the motion is 300 m, then find the time taken to cross the river.

Solution : Let the direction of stream be x-direction and the direction across stream be y-direction. Let us also denote ground person with "A" and water stream with “B”. This is clearly the situation corresponding to the least time for crossing the river.

Here,

Speed of the person (A) with respect to stream (B) : v A B = u = 1 m / s Speed of water stream (B) with respect to ground : v B = v = 2 m / s Speed of the person (A) with respect to ground : v A = ? Speed of the person (A) with respect to stream (B) : v A B = u = 1 m / s Speed of water stream (B) with respect to ground : v B = v = 2 m / s Speed of the person (A) with respect to ground : v A = ?

We note here that the perpendicular linear distance i.e. the width of river is not given. Instead, the linear distance covered during the motion is given. Hence, we need to find the resultant speed in the direction of motion to find time. Using equation for the resultant velocity,

⇒ v A = v B + v AB ⇒ v A = v B + v AB

From the figure, we have :

Figure 4

Relative velocity

v A = √ { v AB 2 + v B 2 } = √ { u 2 + v 2 } v A = √ { v AB 2 + v B 2 } = √ { u 2 + v 2 }

v A = √ { 1 2 + 2 2 } = √ 5 m / s ⇒ t = 500 √ 5 = 100 √ 5 s v A = √ { 1 2 + 2 2 } = √ 5 m / s ⇒ t = 500 √ 5 = 100 √ 5 s

Problem : A person can swim at a speed of √3 m/s in still water. He swims at an angle of 120° from the stream direction while crossing a river. The water stream flows with a speed of 1 m/s. If the river width is 300 m, how long (in seconds) does he take to reach the river bank on the other side ?

Solution : Let the direction of stream be x-direction and the direction across stream be y-direction. Here, we need to know the component of the resultant velocity in the direction perpendicular to the stream.

Figure 5

Relative velocity

This approach, however, would be tedious. We shall use the fact that the component of " v A v A " in any one of the two mutually perpendicular directions is equal to the sum of the components of v A B v A B and v B v B in that direction.

⇒ v Ay = v A B cos 30 0 ⇒ v Ay = √ 3 cos 30 0 = 3 2 m / s ⇒ v Ay = v A B cos 30 0 ⇒ v Ay = √ 3 cos 30 0 = 3 2 m / s

Thus, time taken to cross the river is :

t = Width of the river v Ay t = 300 x 2 3 = 200 s t = Width of the river v Ay t = 300 x 2 3 = 200 s

Problem : A boat, capable of sailing at 2 m/s, moves upstream in a river. The water stream flows at 1 m/s. A person walks from the front end to the rear end of the boat at a speed of 1 m/s along the linear direction. What is the speed of the person (m/s) with respect to ground ?

Solution : Let the direction of stream be x-direction and the direction across stream be y-direction. We further denote boat with “A”, stream with “B”, and person with “C”.

We shall work out this problem in two parts. In the first part, we shall find out the velocity of boat (A) with respect to ground and then we shall find out the velocity of person (C) with respect to ground.

Here,

Velocity of boat (A) with respect to stream (B) : v AB = - 2 m / s Velocity of the stream (A) with respect to ground : v A = 1 m / s Velocity of the person (C) with respect to boat (A) : v CA = 1 m / s Velocity of the person (C) with respect to ground : v C = ? Velocity of boat (A) with respect to stream (B) : v AB = - 2 m / s Velocity of the stream (A) with respect to ground : v A = 1 m / s Velocity of the person (C) with respect to boat (A) : v CA = 1 m / s Velocity of the person (C) with respect to ground : v C = ?

Figure 6

Relative velocity

The velocity of boat with respect to ground is equal to the resultant velocity of the boat as given by :

v A = v A B + v B ⇒ v A = - 2 + 1 = - 1 m / s v A = v A B + v B ⇒ v A = - 2 + 1 = - 1 m / s

For the motion of person and boat, the velocity of the person with respect to ground is equal to the resultant velocity of (i) velocity of the person (C) with respect to boat (A) and (ii) velocity of the boat (A) with respect to ground. We note here that relative velocity of person with respect to boat is given and that we have already determined the velocity of boat (A) with respect to ground in the earlier step. Hence,

Figure 7

Relative velocity

v C = v C A + v A ⇒ v C = 1 + ( - 1 ) = 0 v C = v C A + v A ⇒ v C = 1 + ( - 1 ) = 0

Problem : A boy swims to reach a point “Q” on the opposite bank, such that line joining initial and final position makes an angle of 45 with the direction perpendicular to the stream of water. If the velocity of water stream is “u”, then find the minimum speed with which the boy should swim to reach his target.

Figure 8: The boy swims to reach point “Q”.

Crossing a river

Solution : Let “A” and “B” denote the boy and the stream respectively. Here, we are required to know the minimum speed of boy, v A B v A B (say “v”) such that he reaches point “Q”. Now, he can adjust his speed with the direction he swims. Let the boy swims at an angle “θ” with a speed “v”.

Figure 9: The boy swims to reach point “Q”.

Crossing a river

Looking at the figure, it can be seen that we can make use of the given angle by taking trigonometric ratio such as tangent, which will involve speed of boy in still water (v) and the speed of water stream (u). This expression may then be used to get an expression for the minimum speed as required.

The slope of resultant velocity, v A v A , is :

tan 45 0 = v A x v A y = 1 tan 45 0 = v A x v A y = 1

⇒ v A x = v A x ⇒ v A x = v A x

Now, the components of velocity in “x” and “y” directions are :

v A x = u - v sin θ v A x = u - v sin θ

v A y = v cos θ v A y = v cos θ

Putting in the equation we have :

u - v sin θ = v cos θ u - v sin θ = v cos θ

Solving for “v”, we have :

⇒ v = u sin θ + cos θ ⇒ v = u sin θ + cos θ

The velocity is minimum for a maximum value of denominator. The denominator is maximum for a particular value of the angle, θ; for which :

đ đ θ sin θ + cos θ = 0 đ đ θ sin θ + cos θ = 0

⇒ cos θ - sin θ = 0 ⇒ cos θ - sin θ = 0

⇒ tan θ = 1 ⇒ tan θ = 1

⇒ θ = 45 0 ⇒ θ = 45 0

It means that the boy swims with minimum speed if he swims in the direction making an angle of 45 with y-direction. His speed with this angle is :

v = u sin 45 0 + cos 45 0 = 2 u 2 = u 2 v = u sin 45 0 + cos 45 0 = 2 u 2 = u 2

Problem : A boat crosses a river in minimum time, taking 10 minutes during which time the it drifts by 120 m in the direction of stream. On the other hand, boat takes 12.5 minutes while moving across the river. Find (i) width of the river (ii) velocity of boat in still water and (iii) speed of the stream.

Solution : There are three pieces of information about "minimum time", "drift" and "time along shortest path". Individually each of these values translate into three separate equations, which can be solved to find the required values.

The boat takes minimum time, when it sails in the direction perpendicular to the stream (current). The time to cross the river is given by dividing width with component of resultant velocity ( v A y v A y ). The boat, in this case, sails in the perpendicular direction. Hence, the component of resultant velocity is equal to the velocity of boat in still water ( v AB v AB ). The time to cross the river in this case is :

Figure 10: The swims towards “P”.

Crossing a river

t min = d v A B = d v A B = 10 t min = d v A B = d v A B = 10

d = 10 v A B d = 10 v A B

The drift in this time is given by :

x = v B t min x = v B t min

Putting values,

120 = v B x 10 120 = v B x 10

v B = 12 meter / minute v B = 12 meter / minute

Now we need to use the information on shortest path. It is given that the boat moves across stream in 12.5 minutes. For this boat has to sail upstream at certain angle. The resultant speed is given by :

Figure 11: The swims towards “P”.

Crossing a river

v A = v A B 2 − v B 2 v A = v A B 2 − v B 2

and the time taken is :

d v A B 2 − v B 2 = 12.5 d v A B 2 − v B 2 = 12.5

Substituting for “d” and “ v B v B ” and squaring on both sides, we have :

v A B 2 − 12 2 12.5 2 = d 2 = 10 2 v A B 2 v A B 2 − 12 2 12.5 2 = d 2 = 10 2 v A B 2

v A B 2 12.5 2 − 10 2 = 12 2 x 12.5 2 v A B 2 12.5 2 − 10 2 = 12 2 x 12.5 2

v A B = 12 x 12.5 7.5 = 20 meter / minute v A B = 12 x 12.5 7.5 = 20 meter / minute

and

d = 10 v A B = 10 x 20 = 200 m d = 10 v A B = 10 x 20 = 200 m