Ian's Kayak Adventure and the Speed of the River

What is the relationship between Ian's speed and the current of the river in his kayak adventure?

Is the current working with or against Ian when he paddles upstream and downstream?

Answer:

The speed of the current is 2 miles per hour.

In this scenario, Ian can paddle his kayak at a constant speed of 6 miles per hour in still water. However, when he paddles upstream, the current of the river is working against him, causing his overall speed to decrease. On the other hand, when he paddles downstream, the current of the river aids him, increasing his overall speed. The speed of the current is crucial in determining Ian's net speed during his kayak adventure.

To calculate the speed of the current, we set up an equation based on the time it takes for Ian to paddle 24 miles upstream and 48 miles downstream. By solving this equation, we find that the speed of the current is 2 miles per hour.

Understanding the concept of relative velocities is essential in solving problems like this, where the interaction between an object's speed and the surrounding environment (in this case, the river current) affects its overall velocity.