Prepared by: S.K.

TIWARI, PGT (Physics)

CLASS XI
RIVER AND SWIMMER PROBLEMS

1. A river 800 m wide flows at the rate of 5 km/h. A swimmer who can swim at 10 km/h in still water, wishes to
cross the river straight. (i) Along what direction must he strike? (ii) What should be his resultant velocity? (iii)
How much time will he take?
Ans: (i) 30°, (ii) 2.4𝑚𝑠 −1 , (iii) 333.3 s.
2. A boatman can row with a speed of 10km/h in still water. If the river flows at 5km/h, in which direction
should the boatman row in water to reach a point on the other bank directly opposite to the point from where
he started? The width of the river is 2 km.
Ans: 120°.
3. A man rows directly across the floating river in time 𝑡1 and rows an equal distance down the stream in time𝑡2 .
If u be the speed of a man in still water and v that of stream, then show that:
𝑡1 ∶ 𝑡2 = √𝑢 + 𝑣 : √𝑢 − 𝑣
4. A man can swim with a speed of 4 km/h in still water. He long does he take to cross the river 1 km wide, if the
river flows steadily at 3 km/h and he makes his strokes normal to the river current? How far from the river
does he go, when he reaches the other bank?
Ans: 0.75 km.
5. A man can swim in still water at a speed of 3 km/h. He wants to cross a river that flows at 2 km/h and reach the
point directly opposite to his starting point. (a) In which direction should he try to swim (that is, find the angle
his body makes with the river flow)? (b) How much time will he take to cross the river if the river is 500 m
wide?
2 √5
Ans: (a) 𝜃 = sin−1 3 , (b) 10 h
6. A man can swim at a speed of 3 km/h in still water. He wants to cross a 500 m wide river flowing at 2 km/h.
He keeps himself always at an angle of 120° with the river flow while swimming.
(a) Find the time he takes to cross the river. (b) At what point on the opposite bank will he arrive?
1
Ans: 3⁄3 ℎ.
7. A river 400 m wide is following at a rate of 2.0 m/s. A boat is sailing at a velocity of 10 m/s with respect to
the water, in a direction perpendicular to the river. (a) Find the time taken by the boat to reach the opposite
bank. (b) How far from the point directly opposite to the starting point does the boat reach the opposite bank?
Ans: (a) 40 s , (b) 80 m.
8. A swimmer wishes to cross a 500 m wide river flowing at 5 km/h. His speed with respect to water is 3 km/h.
(a) If he heads in a direction making an angle 𝜃 with the flow, find the time he takes to cross the river.
(b) Find the shortest possible time to cross the river.
10 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠
Ans: (a) (b) 10 minutes
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
9. Consider the situation of the previous problem. The man has to reach the other shore at the point directly
opposite to his starting point. If he reaches the other shore somewhere else, he has to walk down to this point.
Find the minimum distance that he has to walk.
Ans: 2⁄3 km
10. A man wishes to cross a river in a boat. If he crosses the river in minimum time he takes 10 min with a drift of
120 m. If he crosses the river taking shortest route, he takes 12.5 min. Find the velocity of the boat with respect
to water.
Ans: 20 𝑚𝑠 −1

Prepared by: S.K.TIWARI, PGT (Physics) Mb: 9540278702

 Prepared by: S.K.TIWARI, PGT (Physics)
CLASS XI

11. A man can swim at the rate of 5 𝑘𝑚 ℎ−1 in still water. A 1-km wide river flows at the rate of 3𝑘𝑚 ℎ−1 . The
man wishes to swim across the river directly opposite to the starting point.
(a) Along what direction must the man swim?
(b) What should be his resultant velocity?
(c) How much time will it take to cross the river?
Ans: 127° w.r.t the river (b) 4 𝑘𝑚 ℎ−1 (c) 15 min
12. A river flows due south with a speed of 2.0𝑚 𝑠 −1 . A man steers a motorboat across the river; his velocity
relative to the water is 4 𝑚 𝑠 −1 due easts. The river is 800 m wide,
(a) What is the velocity (magnitude and direction) relative to the earth?
(b) How much time is required to cross the river?
(c) How far south of his starting point will he reach the opposite bank?
1
Ans: (a) tan−1 (2) (b) 200 s (c) 400 m
13. A boat moves relative to water with a velocity v which is n times less than the river flow velocity u. At what
angle to the stream direction must the boat move to minimize drifting?
1
Ans: sin−1 𝑛
14. A river is flowing with a speed of 1 𝑘𝑚 ℎ−1 per hour wants to go to point C starting from A. He swims with a
speed of 5 𝑘𝑚 ℎ−1 at an angle 𝜃 w.r.t. the river flow. If AB = BC = 400 m, at what angle with the river bank
should the swimmer swim?
Ans: 53°.
15. A river is flowing from west to east at a speed of 5 metres per minute. A man on the south bank of the river,
capable of swimming at 10 meters per minute in still water, wants to swim across the river in the shortest time.
He should swim in a direction.
(a) due north (b) 30° east of north (c) 30° west of north (d) 60° east of north
16. A boat which has a speed of 5 km/hr in still water crosses a river of width 1 km along the shortest possible path
in 15 minutes. the velocity of the river water in km/hr is
(a) 1 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) √41

AEROPLANE WIND PROBLEM

1. In a harbour, wind is blowing at the speed 72 𝑘𝑚ℎ−1 and the flag on the mast of a boat anchored in the
harbour flutters along the N-E direction. If the boat starts moving at a speed of 51𝑘𝑚ℎ−1 to the north; what is
the direction of the flag on the mast of the boat?
Ans: w.r.t east direction 0.01°
2. An aeroplane has to go from a point A to another point B, 500 km away due 30°east of north. A wind is
blowing due north at a speed of 20 m/s. The air-speed of the plane is 150 m/s. (a) Find the direction in which
the pilot should head the plane to reach the point B. (b) Find the time taken by the plane to go from A to B.
1
Ans: (a) sin−1 (15) 𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝐴𝐵 (b) 50 min

Prepared by: S.K.TIWARI, PGT (Physics) Mb: 9540278702