A river is flowing due east with a speed 3m/s. A swimmer can swim in still water at a speed of 4 m/s (Fig. 4.8).
(a) If swimmer starts swimming due north, what will be his resultant velocity (magnitude and direction)?
(b) If he wants to start from point A on south bank and reach opposite point B on north bank,
(a) which direction should he swim?
(b) what will be his resultant speed?
(c) From two different cases as mentioned in (a) and (b) above, in which case will he reach opposite bank in shorter time?

Given:
Speed of the river = vr = 3m/s
Speed of the man = vm = 4m/s
(a)

The river flows East and the man swims north
So, resultant speed of the man,
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Resultant direction of the man,
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(b)

If the man wants to reach the opposite point on the bank, then the horizontal component of his resultant velocity must be zero.
So, vmx = -vr = -3m/s
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Now, direction in which the man should swim can be found by,
![]()
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(c) Time taken by man to swim can be found by,
![]()
In case a,
![]()
In case b,
![]()
Clearly, T1 < T2
So, the man will reach the opposite bank in shorter time in case a.
Couldn't generate an explanation.
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