A sailboat is moving at a constant velocity. (a) Is work being done by a net ext

Question

A sailboat is moving at a constant velocity. (a) Is work being done by a net external force acting on the boat? Explain.
(b) Recognizing that the wind propels the boat forward and the water resists the boat's motion, what does your answer in part (a) imply about the work done by the win'd force compared to the work done by the water's resistive force?

Explanation / Answer

a)Work is not being done because constant velocity means that there is no acceleration. F = ma -----> F = m(0) ----> F = 0. The combined forces of the wind and friction of the boat on the surface of the water cancel each other out and the net force equals zero. This makes the sailboat travel at constant velocity. Force of wind - force of friction = 0. b) The work done by the wind force is positive and the work done by the water's resistive force is negative. Both works done are equal in magnitude.

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