21-06-2011 Crossing the river.

Vm = man's velocity (w.r.t. stationary frame of reference viz. ground)
Vw = river's velocity (w.r.t. stationary frame of reference viz. ground)
Vmw = man's velocity w.r.t. the river.

Given, |Vmw| = |Vw| = v
width of the river = d.

Neglect, viscosity etc.

1)
There is a point O at a distance d from the bank.
The person starts swimming from point A (given in figure) in such a way that it's distance from O is always constant.
Find time taken to cross the river (in terms of d and v).

2)
A and O are two directly opposite points, on either bank of the river.
The man starts from A in such a way that Vmw is always directed towards the point O.
Find:
a) The trajectory of the path taken.
b) The distance from point O of the man when he ultimately crosses the river.

23 Answers

1
kunl ·

well clearly in second case its follwoing a parabolic trajectory as far as i can see[1]

1
aditya ravichandran ·

an ms-paint version :P


\texttt{The component of man's velocity along radius is responsible for } \\ \texttt{decrease in radius} \\ \\ -\frac{dr}{dt}=v_{m}\sin {\left( \frac{90-\theta}{2}\right)} \cdots\boxed{1}\\ \\ \texttt{The component of man's velocity along tangent is responsible for }\\ \texttt{change in }\theta \\ \\ r\frac{d\theta}{dt}=v_{m}\cos{\left( \frac{90-\theta}{2}\right)} \cdots\boxed{2}\\ \\ \texttt{Dividing both equations} \\ -\frac{dr}{r}=\tan{\left( \frac{90-\theta}{2}\right)}d\theta \cdots\boxed{3}\\ \texttt{Integrating both sides with proper limits} \\ -\int_{d}^{r}\frac{dr}{r}=\int_{0}^{\theta}\tan{\left( \frac{90-\theta}{2}\right)}d\theta \\ \texttt{We finally get} \\ r(1+\sin\theta)=d \\ \texttt{At }\theta=\frac{\pi}{2} \\ \boxed{r=\frac{d}{2}}

1
aditya ravichandran ·

a purely mathematical proof :

49
Subhomoy Bakshi ·

Absolute Anand absolute! :D

Waise I knew it! :P

Anyway, officially welcome back! :D

49
Subhomoy Bakshi ·

1)

v = rω

2vcosθ = 2d dθdt
or,\;\frac{v}{d}\int_{0}^{t}{dt}=\int_{0}^{\frac{\pi }{3}}{sec\theta d\theta }

Gives answer: t=vd log(2+√3)

1
kunl ·

tht is the picture at t=0 which u have drawn aditya...
now draw the picture at say t=5 second based on the condition that man's velocity is directed towards O...hope u got what why the velocity is not same throughout.

But yeah at every point NET velocity would bisect the angle b/w velocity of man and velocity of river by simple rule of vector algrebraic summation of two vectors[1]

262
Aditya Bhutra ·


in the second case, why is the velocity changing ??
velocity is same throughout so isnt the path supposed to be str. line ?

1
kunl ·

btw here's something to admit at TIIT...this is Anand for those who remember me.
And for those who asked my JEE results few days(days?or a month [3]) back but i did not reply here's the reply(actually i was really feeling [2]ashamed[2] of myself for not clearing it even in the second attempt...so did not want to reply[3]):
I failed[2]..tht too really badly not clearing the Chemistry cut-off!

1
kunl ·

Now can u say at what distance from O would the person end up on the other bank of the river?

since in the post above we proved that it is a parabola so the man would end up at a point on bank where his distane from O and our constructed line is equal(WHY? since e=1 for a parabola)

so,man would end up at a point at a distance of d/2 from O on the other bank of the river when he crosses it[1]

1
kunl ·

well trying out a GEOMETRIC CONSTRUTION[3] to make things clear.

construct "a line" at a distance d from the man along downstream.

Wondering why?read on,things will justify themselves soon.

At t=0. Man is at a distance d from O and from our line too
At any time t,Man's distance from O and our line would be same since the velocity of man directed towards O=velcoity of man downstream.

so,by now most of us would have got it that the line we constructed turned out to be the so-awaited directrix of parabola(since eccentricity=1) and O is the focus.

Hence we have proved that the trajectory is a parabola[1]

49
Subhomoy Bakshi ·

try proving it kunl! [1]

1
aditya ravichandran ·

i am not able to solve the second

i am getting

x=v∫0t(1+cosθ)dt
y=v∫0t(sinθ)dt

1
Debosmit Majumder ·

is the answr to the 1st one d/√vm2-4v2

21
Shubhodip ·

t = dvln(tan(12))

(correct , as subhomoy told me in chat box)

49
Subhomoy Bakshi ·

yes, it is given, width of river is d! :D

21
Shubhodip ·

what is the distance between point A and the bank? is it d?

49
Subhomoy Bakshi ·

21
Shubhodip ·

49
Subhomoy Bakshi ·

Radius is 2d...
It is moving > π4

Silly mistakes ruin everything! :(

21
Shubhodip ·

no it is moving Î 2 radians, that's why length of arc is Î d2

btw , is my expression correct ?

49
Subhomoy Bakshi ·

it is not moving π4 radians angle inside water!

21
Shubhodip ·

plz tell my mistake for the first one..

the man has to move in a circular arc of length Î d2. At any time t if he covers a distance 's' (in the circular path) it's velocity will be 2vcos sd

(dsdt) = 2vcos sd

ds secsd= 2vdt on integrating you get infinite time...

49
Subhomoy Bakshi ·

:P but here vm is changing all the time..

Anyway, give answers in terms of v and d..

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