Question

The Huka Falls on the Waikato River is one of New Zealand’s most visited natural tourist

attractions. On average, the river has a flow rate of about 200,000 L/s.

(a) In the canyon upstream of the falls, the river narrows to 15 m wide and is about 1 m deep.

What is the average speed of the river in the canyon? Could an olympic swimmer manage to fight

the current?

(b) Downstream of the falls, it widens to 65 m and its depth increases to an average of 7.0 m. What

is the speed there? Is swimming there OK?

Answer 1