Real Life Maths

Was William Bligh correct to attempt his crossing from

Tofua to Timor after his crew on the Bounty mutinied?

In 1781 appointed Acting Captain for an expedition to Tahiti to collect breadfruit plants destined for transplantation in the West Indies. It was a long and difficult voyage .

William Bligh

Mutiny

• Discipline had been a problem throughout the voyage !

• In Tahiti Mr Christian, the second in command, led a mutiny. (April 28th 1789)

• Bligh and 18 men were cast adrift in a small boat.

Bligh's boat was only 23ft long by 6ft 9ins wide

Bligh initially sailed to the Island of Tofua but the natives were hostile.

Bligh set sail for Timar which was 4000 miles away.

We are going to assess if that was a sensible thing to do

Start work on the handout sheets.

How Long Can You Live Without Water?

Max Daily Temperature

Number of Days in the Shade (1 person)  

No Water

1 Litre

2 Litres

4 Litres

9 Litres

19 Litres

 

49 C 2 days 2 2 2.5 3 4.5  

43 C 3 3 3.5 4 5 7  

38 C 5 5.5 6 7 9.5 13.5  

32 C 7 8 9 10.5 15 23  

29.5 C  

27 C 9 10 11 13 19 29  

24 C  

21 C 10 11 12 14 20.5 32  

16 C 10 11 12 14 21 32  

10 C 10 11 12 14.5 21 32  

Your Findings

How much water did they need?

How much would the water weigh?How much room would it take up in the boat?How many miles he would need to travel each day? Effect of tides, varying wind and how a boat sails?

What about the food?

You Decide

Was he correct to sail?

YES or No