Why exactly is there a rectangular shaped object on the bottom of the chopping board? Does it help it and how?

Please be detailed and explanatory :)

Ariver flows from north to south at 8 km/h. a boat is to cross this river from west to east at a speed of 20 km/h (speed of the boat with respect to the earth/ground). at what angle (in degrees) must the boat be pointed upstream such that it will proceed directly across the river (hint: find the speed of the boat with respect to water/river)? a 288 b. 21.8 c. 326 d. 30.2

An ideal otto cycle with air as the working fluid has a compression ratio of 8. the minimum and maximum temperatures in the cycle are 300 k and 1340 k. use constant specific heats at room temperature to determine (a) the amount of heat transferred to the air during the heat- addition kj/kg, (b) the thermal efficiency, and (c) the thermal efficiency of a carnot cycle ope limits. process, in rating between the same temperature

Find the minimum film thickness for a journal bearing with the data below. shaft diameter, d-50 mm, clearance ratio, cdratio? 0.001, shaft speed, n 2000 rpm; bearing length. i 200 mm; eccentricity ration, ? -0.55. ( note, cdratio-ca/d) the minimum film thickness is um