A wave on the ocean surface with wavelength 44 m travels east at a speed of 18 m/s relative to the ocean floor. If, on this stretch of ocean, a powerboat is moving at 14 m/s (relative to the ocean floor), how often does the boat encounter a wave crest, if the boat is traveling (a) west, and (b) east?

A) t=1.375s

B) t=11s

Explanation:

for this problem we will assume that the east is positive while the west is negative, what we must do is find the relative speed between the wave and the powerboat, and then with the distance find the time for each case

ecuations

V=Vw-Vp (1)

V = relative speed

Vw = speed of wave

Vp=Speesd

t=X/V (2)

t=time

x=distance=44m

A) the powerboat moves to west

V=18 - (-14) = 32m/s

t=44/32=1.375s

B) the powerboat moves to east

V=18-14=4

t=44/4=11s