Boat in Current: Speed of Current

Boat in current as example of relative velocity. Assume the resultant speed and bearing as well as the rowing speed in still water are known.

Since the velocities form a right triangle, any velocity can be found from the triangle relationships if the other two are known.
Velocity unit
If the rowing speed is known to be =
and the resultant boat speed is measured to be =,
Then the current speed is =
and the boat will be angled downstream at °
Alternate calculations: Resultant speed and bearing Rowing speed
Index

Relative velocity
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