Alex is swimming in the Atlantic Ocean when he is pursued by a shark. Alex is swimming at 1.5 m/s to the west relative to the ocean current, which has a velocity of 0.50 m/s in a direction 45 degrees east of north relative to the ground. The shark is swimming at 5.0 m/s in a direction 10 degrees west of north relative to the ground.

a) What is Alex's velocity relative to the ground?
b) what is Alex's velocity relative to the shark?

Thanks!

Question

Alex is swimming in the Atlantic Ocean when he is pursued by a shark. Alex is swimming at 1.5 m/s to the west relative to the ocean current, which has a velocity of 0.50 m/s in a direction 45 degrees east of north relative to the ground. The shark is swimming at 5.0 m/s in a direction 10 degrees west of north relative to the ground.

a) What is Alex's velocity relative to the ground?
b) what is Alex's velocity relative to the shark?

Thanks!

anonymous · Answer

Assuming this is for a basic physics course, not dealing with Einstein's postulates and such we can assume that velocities will just add.