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AP Physics C: Mechanics
1.4 Reference Frames and Relative Motion
1.1 Scalars and Vectors
IntermediateMCQDrawing RepresentationsConceptual25.5k
A top-down view showing two horizontal parallel lines representing the south bank at the bottom and north bank at the top of a river. Between the banks, three rightward horizontal arrows indicate the water flow, labeled \(\vec{v}_{w/g}\). On the south bank, a filled circle marks the launch point labeled P. Directly opposite point P on the north bank, an open circle marks the destination point labeled Q. A vertical dashed line connects point P to point Q perpendicular to both banks. A four-point compass rose in the upper right corner shows North pointing upward and East pointing to the right. No other labels, lines, text, or axes appear.
Top-down view of the river crossing geometry.
A river with straight, parallel banks running east-west flows with a constant current velocity \(\vec{v}_{w/g}\) directed due east. A boat travels with a constant speed \(v_{b/w}\) relative to the water, where \(v_{b/w} > v_{w/g}\). To travel in a straight line directly across the river from the south bank to a landing point on the north bank directly opposite the launch point, the boat must maintain a constant resultant velocity \(\vec{v}_{b/g}\) directed due north. Which of the following vector diagrams correctly represents the relationship among the velocity vectors \(\vec{v}_{b/w}\), \(\vec{v}_{w/g}\), and \(\vec{v}_{b/g}\)?

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