Question

A swimmer attempts to swim upstream. The swimmer can swim at 4 m/s in still water, but the current flows downstream at 1.5 m/s. What is the swimmer's net velocity relative to the ground?

Options

• 5.5 m/s upstream

• 2.5 m/s upstream

• 1.5 m/s downstream

• 4 m/s upstream

Answer 1

2.5 m/s upstream

Explanation:

The swimmer's velocity (4 m/s upstream) and current velocity (1.5 m/s downstream) are anti-parallel. Net velocity = 4 - 1.5 = 2.5 m/s upstream (in direction of larger vector).