Question

A 2300 kg sailboat is moving west at 5.5 m/s when an eastward wind

Answer 1

The boat is initially at equilibrium since it seems to start off at a constant speed of 5.5 m/s. If the wind applies a force of 950 N, then it is applying an acceleration a of

950 N = (2300 kg) a

a = (950 N) / (2300 kg)

a ≈ 0.413 m/s²

Take east to be positive and west to be negative, so that the boat has an initial velocity of -5.5 m/s. Then after 11.5 s, the boat will attain a velocity of

v = -5.5 m/s + a (11.5 s)

v = -0.75 m/s

which means the wind slows the boat down to a velocity of 0.75 m/s westward.