Sailing
An amateur yachtsman who is also a physicist has worked out
the mathematics for determining the fastest route for sailing
from point A to point B. The figure below is a vector diagram
that shows all the possible velocities for a given wind direction.
The
intersection of the right-angle line and the velocity arc determines
the best direction to aim from point A. Of course this direction
will change as the slowness vector changes, so you will need
to continually recalculate a new heading.
Is
there a direction between two points (the slowness vector) that
matches the direction of the fastest route? If so, then what
is the approximate angle of this direction?
Please read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy before you
explore our Web site. To report a technical problem with this Web site, please contact the
Web Producer.