Quiz

Two 2000-ton ships set off from the Azores. One heads east, one heads west.

All other things being equal which ship needs the most fuel to make 20 knots?

Neil

Relative to what?

Which way is the wind blowing and how strong and whats the tide direction and strength. and if one is a sail boat......

Edited By JasonB on 09/02/2015 15:01:50

Well, if all other things are being equal they'll both use the same amount.

But if they both had equal weather conditions say a 10knot North Easterly wind. One could take advantage but the other would be disadvantaged.

Wouldn't be 'equal' then Jason

All other things being equal

The one heading east

which ship needs the most fuel to make 20 knots

oops edit, the one heading west

Edited By Ady1 on 09/02/2015 15:27:30

Edited By Ady1 on 09/02/2015 15:28:37

.

Are we talking about knots of speed here.?

nick

The one that is going in the same direction as the rotation of the earth?

Isn't that the catch.

Is both having a North easterly equal

Or is both having a head wind equal

Anyway bring on question No 2

Two parting tools, one mounted at the front, one at the back............all being equal...............which cuts better

That's my guess, then edited for the MOST fuel, ie going against gravity and rotation, so west

Neither, they are both under sail ?

The one pointing forwards cuts the metal better BUT the one pointing backwards cuts YOU better.

Edited By Roger Provins 2 on 09/02/2015 15:39:57

Time flies like an arrow

Fruit flies like a banana

Ady gets the point!

Neil

Looks like the prominent scientist was Yakov Perelman and the original statement of the problem is possibly here (with maths!).

Edited By Bikepete on 09/02/2015 16:05:39

Coriolis effect ??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriolis_effect

downhill ?

Edited By jason udall on 09/02/2015 17:44:54

Edited By jason udall on 09/02/2015 17:46:02

.

Slightly off topic I know but in some ways not.

The salinity of the water effects the ships draft. Thus if for some reason the salinity on one direction was higher the ship would not sit as deeply in the water so the hull would have less resistance.

Trivial point you might think. But a friend of mine was a navigator and if their destination was a port in a fresh water estuary for example they would have to work out how much deeper they would sit in the water if that ports water depth was marginal for them. Of course factored in would have to be the loss in weight of several thousand tons of fuel they had used on the passage.

So actually a real world issue.

Nick