River Crossing

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Select the width of the river (10 to 80 m), the velocity of the boat (green line, 2 to 10 m/s) and the velocity of the current (yellow line, 2 to 10 m/s).Press Submit each time.

Click on Shortest Time and select option you want.

The red line represents the resultant velocity vector i.e. the actual path taken by the boat (blue).

Press Start Boat.

For Shortest Time the boat is carried downstream by the current, for Shortest Route the boat must head against the current.

Calculate the time of crossing and the distance travelled downstream and angle of heading.

To check your results press the Answers button.

Press Reset to repeat the simulation with different input values.









Width of river:

Speed of boat:

Speed of current:


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