J a n s o n s I n s ti t u t e o f Te c h n o l o g y

BOATS AND STREAMS

 Concepts
• Still water – speed of water is zero
• Stream water – water in the river is moving
• Man’s rate of rowing in still water – x km/hr
• Speed of stream(current)-y km/hr
• Downstream rowing – direction of rowing and direction
of flow of water (stream) is same
– Man’s rate of rowing downstream= Downstream rate=x+y
• Upstream rowing – direction of rowing and direction of
flow of water (stream) are opposite
– Man’s rate of rowing upstream=Upstream rate=x-y
 Important Formulae
• Downstream rate = x+y=
• Upstream rate = x-y=
• Man’s rate in still water,

• Speed of stream,

• When downstream distance = upstream distance,

– Average speed of total journey =

– Total journey time( =
 Problem
A man can swim downstream at 8 km/hr and upstream at 2
km/hr. Find the man’s rate in still water and the speed of
current.
 Problem
A man can swim downstream at 8 km/hr and
upstream at 2 km/hr. Find the man’s rate in still
water and the speed of current.
Solution:
Man’s rate in still water,

Speed of current / stream,

 Problem
A man rows upstream 20 km and downstream 30 km taking 5 hours each.
Find the speed of current.
 Problem
A man rows upstream 20 km and downstream 30 km taking 5
hours each. Find the speed of current.
Solution:
Speed of current / stream,
 Problem
A boat man can row 2 km against the stream in 20 min. and
return in 15 min. Find the rate of rowing in still water and the
speed of current.
 Problem
A boat man can row 2 km against the stream in 20 min. and
return in 15 min. Find the rate of rowing in still water and the
speed of current.
Solution:
Man’s rate in still water,

Speed of current / stream,

 Problem
A man can row 4 km/hr in still water and he finds that it takes
him twice as long to row up as to row down the river. Find the
rate of stream.
 Problem
A man can row 4 km/hr in still water and he finds that it takes
him twice as long to row up as to row down the river. Find the
rate of stream.
Solution:
When downstream distance = upstream
distance,
Exercises
 Problem
A person can swim in still water at 4 km/hr. If the speed of water
is 2 km/hr, how many hours will the man take to swim back
against the current for 6 km.
 Problem
A person can swim in still water at 4 km/hr. If the speed of water
is 2 km/hr, how many hours will the man take to swim back
against the current for 6 km.
Solution:
Given x=4 km/hr ; y=2 km/hr.
Then, upstream rate = x-y = 4-2 = 2 km/hr.
To swim back in upstream for 6 km =
 Problem
A boat goes 100 km downstream in 10 hours and 75 km
upstream in 15 hours. The speed of the stream is:
 Problem
A boat goes 100 km downstream in 10 hours and 75 km
upstream in 15 hours. The speed of the stream is:
Solution:
Downstream rate = x+y=100/10 = 10 km/hr.
Upstream rate = x-y = 75/15 = 5 km/hr.
Speed of current / stream,
 Problem
A man can row his boat with the stream at 6 km/hr and against
the stream in 4 km/hr. The man’s rate is:
 Problem
A man can row his boat with the stream at 6 km/hr and against
the stream in 4 km/hr. The man’s rate is:
Solution:
Downstream rate = x+y= 6 km/hr.
Upstream rate = x-y = 4 km/hr.
Man’s rate,
 Problem
A man can swim in still water at 4.5 km/hr, but takes twice as
long to swim upstream than downstream. The speed of the
stream is,
 Problem
A man can swim in still water at 4.5 km/hr, but takes twice as
long to swim upstream than downstream. The speed of the
stream is,
Solution:
When downstream distance = upstream
distance,
 Problem
If a man takes 3 hours to row 3 km upstream or 15 km
downstream, then the speed of the current is:
 Problem
If a man takes 3 hours to row 3 km upstream or 15 km
downstream, then the speed of the current is:
Solution:
Downstream rate = x+y=15/3 = 5 km/hr.
Upstream rate = x-y = 3/3 = 1 km/hr.
Speed of current / stream,
 Problem
A man can row in still water at 7 km/hr and the rate of stream is
3.5 km/hr. A distance of 10.5 km in going upstream is covered
in:
 Problem
A man can row in still water at 7 km/hr and the rate of stream is
3.5 km/hr. A distance of 10.5 km in going upstream is covered
in:
Solution:
x=7 km/hr; y=3.5 km/hr; dup=10.5 km
Upstream rate =
 Quiz
A boat goes downstream at U m/s and upstream at V m/s. Then the
speed of the boat in still water is:
a. b. c. d.
e. 2UV
THANK YOU