AQA M1 2013 January — Question 6

Exam BoardAQA
ModuleM1 (Mechanics 1)
Year2013
SessionJanuary
TopicVectors Introduction & 2D

6 A river has straight parallel banks. The water in the river is flowing at a constant velocity of \(3 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) parallel to the banks. A boat crosses the river, from the point \(A\) to the point \(B\), so that its path is at an angle \(\alpha\) to the bank. The velocity of the boat relative to the water is \(4 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\) perpendicular to the bank. The diagram shows these velocities and the path of the boat.
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{ccc1db66-9700-4f22-905e-cc0bdf1fd3c1-12_467_988_568_532}
  1. Show that \(\alpha = 53.1 ^ { \circ }\), correct to three significant figures.
  2. The boat returns along the same straight path from \(B\) to \(A\). Given that the speed of the boat relative to the water is still \(4 \mathrm {~m} \mathrm {~s} ^ { - 1 }\), find the magnitude of the resultant velocity of the boat on the return journey.