Yes, it is possible to calculate the drift when the velocity of a person with respect to a river is greater than the velocity of the river itself. The drift refers to the sideways displacement experienced by an object or person in a fluid flow.
When the velocity of the person relative to the river is greater, it means that the person is moving faster than the current of the river. In such a situation, the person will experience a sideways drift due to the combined effect of their motion and the river's flow.
To calculate the drift, you would need to consider the vector sum of the person's velocity and the river's velocity. The resulting vector represents the combined motion of the person relative to the ground. The magnitude and direction of this resultant vector would determine the drift experienced by the person.
Here's a simplified example to illustrate the calculation:
Let's say the person is moving with a velocity of 5 meters per second (m/s) relative to the ground, and the river is flowing with a velocity of 3 m/s in a certain direction. The velocity vectors can be represented as follows:
Person's velocity relative to the ground: 5 m/s (in a specific direction) River's velocity: 3 m/s (in the opposite direction)
To calculate the drift, you would find the vector sum of these velocities:
Resultant velocity = Person's velocity + River's velocity
In this case, the resultant velocity vector represents the combined motion of the person relative to the ground. The magnitude and direction of this vector would determine the drift experienced by the person.
It's important to note that the drift calculation can become more complex when considering additional factors such as angles, currents, and other forces at play. However, this simplified example provides a basic understanding of how to approach calculating drift in a scenario where the person's velocity relative to the river is greater than the river's velocity.