scilearner Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 Hello everyone, When you go on a boat and use the paddle and displace water molecules you create low water pressure right? Then why does the boat move forward? I know water would flow from high to low but how can you specfically know that water would fly from high to low in forward direction, can't it happen in any direction? Also why does paddling one side make the boat turn? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJBruce Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 Rowing a boat is all about Newton's Third Law. You apply a force propelling the water backwards, and the water provides and equal and opposite force propelling you forward. As far as I know it has nothing to do with pressure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insane_alien Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 pressure is how the force is transmitted to the water. force over the area of the paddle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scilearner Posted December 30, 2009 Author Share Posted December 30, 2009 Right!! Thanks for all the answers. I understand newton's third law at work here but if you displace air molecules don't other air molecules come to fill the space. Doesn't the same thing happen with water. I think I'm talking about buoyancy force. Also I still don't understand why paddling one side make it turn? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted December 30, 2009 Share Posted December 30, 2009 Also I still don't understand why paddling one side make it turn? The force is not at the center-of-mass, resulting in a torque. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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