	A swimmer decides to swim in open water. Their velocity is 6 m/s and the velocity of the current is 4.2 m/s. What is the resultant velocity of the swimmer?

To find the resultant velocity of the swimmer, we need to consider the direction of both the swimmer's velocity and the current's velocity. There are two main cases:

1. **If the swimmer is swimming in the same direction as the current**:
   The velocities add up, so the resultant velocity is the sum of the swimmer's velocity and the current's velocity:
   
   \[
   v_{\text{resultant}} = v_{\text{swimmer}} + v_{\text{current}} = 6\, \text{m/s} + 4.2\, \text{m/s} = 10.2\, \text{m/s}
   \]

2. **If the swimmer is swimming in the opposite direction to the current**:
   The velocities oppose each other, so the resultant velocity is the difference between the swimmer's velocity and the current's velocity:
   
   \[
   v_{\text{resultant}} = v_{\text{swimmer}} - v_{\text{current}} = 6\, \text{m/s} - 4.2\, \text{m/s} = 1.8\, \text{m/s}
   \]

If the swimmer is swimming at an angle to the current, we would need to apply vector addition (using trigonometry). However, without specifying angles, the above two scenarios cover the most common cases.

Would you like further details or clarifications on any of this?

Here are 5 related questions to explore further:
1. What if the swimmer's velocity is less than the current's velocity in opposite directions?
2. How would you calculate the resultant velocity if the swimmer swims at an angle to the current?
3. How does the current affect the swimmer's travel time over a given distance?
4. What is the swimmer's displacement after a given time if the current flows perpendicular to their motion?
5. What are the effects of currents on competitive swimming in open water?

**Tip:** When dealing with vectors, always consider both magnitude and direction for accurate results.

A swimmer decides to swim in open water. Their velocity is 6 m/s and the velocity of the current is 4.2 m/s. What is the resultant velocity of the swimmer?

Discover how to calculate the resultant velocity of a swimmer with a velocity of 6 m/s in open water when swimming with or against a current of 4.2 m/s. This problem uses vector addition and is suitable for students in Grades 9-10.

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