Question

The arrow in the following diagram shows the direction a sailing ship moves. What happens if a strong wind blows from the same direction?

A. The sailing ship moves faster
B. The sailing ship moves slower
C. The sailing ship comes to rest
D. Nothing happens

Answer 1

Hint: Sailing ships work by utilizing the true wind and apparent wind. The sail creates a low pressure zone and high pressure zone. Low pressure zone is created in front of the sail and a high pressure zone is created behind the sail. The sailing ship moves into the low pressure zone and it is pushed forward.

Complete answer:
True wind: When the sailing ship is stationary that is standing still and when the wind blows that wind is said to be true wind.
Apparent wind: When the sailing ship is in motion and when the wind blows that wind is said to be apparent wind. One force pulls the sailboat whereas another force pushes and creates the motion of the sailboat.

True wind always pushes the sailing ship. Suppose a boat sails perpendicular to the true wind, hence the sail is flat to the wind and the sailing ship is pushed from behind. Apparent wind pulls the sailing ship; here apparent wind is less compared to the true wind. If the sailing ship travels at some angle to the true wind, then apparent wind creates a force and makes the boat move faster than the wind.

Therefore, the correct option A.

Note: In the sailing ship, the wind blows against the sailing ship at an angle to the sail. And it forms similar fail shapes which in turn create a pressure difference. This pressure difference pushes the sail perpendicular to the wind direction.