When does a current perpendicular to a...

Question 1 of 2707066636ee928f7522a1c5194bb

When does a current perpendicular to a vessel's track have the greatest effect on the vessel's course made good?

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Question 1 of 27070

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When does a current perpendicular to a vessel's track have the greatest effect on the vessel's course made good?

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🔍 Key Concepts

• Effect of set and drift on a vessel’s track • Relationship between vessel speed through the water and sideways displacement from current • Understanding course made good (CMG) versus heading

💭 Think About

• Imagine your vessel heading straight north while the current sets you directly east or west. How does changing your own speed alter how far sideways you get pushed over a given distance? • Think about the ratio between the vessel’s speed and the current’s speed. When does the same cross current cause a larger change in the direction of the resulting track? • Over one hour, if the current moves you sideways a fixed distance, how does your forward speed change the angle between your intended track and your actual track?

✅ Before You Answer

• Compare how a fixed current affects a vessel moving slowly versus quickly over the same time period • Focus on speed through the water, not depth of water (shallow vs deep) for this type of problem • Visualize or sketch the velocity triangle: one arrow for the ship’s speed, one for the current, and the resulting course made good