walts_photos
New member
helicoptor more time? As viewed from the shore. A guy is standing in the middle of a boat heading towards a waterfall with some velocity (the waterfall is located to the right of the observer). To give a helicopter more time to reach him before he ends up going off the waterfall with the boat, he walks in some direction. What direction should the guy walk to give the helicopter more time to save him.
Consider the problem as 2D and we are only considering movement in the x direction.
I assume the guy should walk to the left, away from the waterfall, to have more time for the helicopter to reach him. Considering the view point of the observer, if the guy walks to the left with the same velocity that the river is moving he will appear to be remaining in one place (until he reaches the back of the boat then he wouldn't be able to walk left any more without ending up in the river).
Consider the problem as 2D and we are only considering movement in the x direction.
I assume the guy should walk to the left, away from the waterfall, to have more time for the helicopter to reach him. Considering the view point of the observer, if the guy walks to the left with the same velocity that the river is moving he will appear to be remaining in one place (until he reaches the back of the boat then he wouldn't be able to walk left any more without ending up in the river).