Year: 1991
Paper: 2
Question Number: 14
Course: UFM Mechanics
Section: Variable Force
No solution available for this problem.
Difficulty Rating: 1600.0
Difficulty Comparisons: 0
Banger Rating: 1500.0
Banger Comparisons: 0
The current in a straight river of constant width $h$ flows at uniform
speed $\alpha v$ parallel to the river banks, where $0<\alpha<1$.
A boat has to cross from a point $A$ on one bank to a point $B$
on the other bank directly opposite to $A$. The boat moves at constant
speed $v$ relative to the water. When the position of the boat is
$(x,y)$, where $x$ is the perpendicular distance from the opposite
bank and $y$ is the distance downstream from $AB$, the boat is pointing
in a direction which makes an angle $\theta$ with $AB$. Determine
the velocity vector of the boat in terms of $v,\theta$ and $\alpha.$
The pilot of the boat steers in such a way that the boat always points
exactly towards $B$. Show that the velocity vector of the boat is
\[
\begin{pmatrix}\dfrac{\mathrm{d}x}{\mathrm{d}t}\\
\tan\theta\dfrac{\mathrm{d}x}{\mathrm{d}t}+x\sec^{2}\theta\dfrac{\mathrm{d}\theta}{\mathrm{d}t}
\end{pmatrix}.
\]
By comparing this with your previous expression deduce that
\[
\alpha\frac{\mathrm{d}x}{\mathrm{d}\theta}=-x\sec\theta
\]
and hence show that
\[
(x/h)^{\alpha}=(\sec\theta+\tan\theta)^{-1}.
\]
Let $s(t)$ be a new variable defined by $\tan\theta=\sinh(\alpha s).$
Show that $x=h\mathrm{e}^{-s},$ and that
\[
h\mathrm{e}^{-s}\cosh(\alpha s)\frac{\mathrm{d}s}{\mathrm{d}t}=v.
\]
Hence show that the time of crossing is $hv^{-1}(1-\alpha^{2})^{-1}.$