Relative Motion Relative Motion C[1]

ONSERVAT

Relative Motion in One Dimension

Velocity is measured relative to other objects.
Suppose there are two persons A and B sitting in a car moving at constant speed. Two
stationary persons C and D observe them from the ground.

B A
D C

Here B appears to be moving for C and D, but at rest for A. Similarly C appears to be
at rest for D but moving backward for A and B.
Relative Position
It is the position of a particle w.r.t. observer.
In general if position of A w.r.t. to origin is xA and that of B w.r.t. origin is xB then
“Position of A w.r.t. B” xAB is x B xAB
xAB = xA – xB xA

Origin B A
Relative velocity Relative velocity of a particle A with respect to B is defined as the velocity
with which A appears to move if B is considered to be at rest. In other words, it is the velocity
with which A appears to move as seen by B considering itself to be at rest.
Note : All velocities are relative & have no significance unless observer is specified. However, when
we say “velocity of A”, what we mean is , velocity of A w.r.t. ground which is assumed to
be at rest.

vA
A A'
vB
B B'
  
Relative velocity of object B with respect to object A, v BA  v B  v A
vA vB
B

vBA
B
= velocity of object B - velocity of object A.
  
Relative Velocity of object A with respect to object B, v AB  v A  v B

vB A vA

vAB
A

= velocity of object A - velocity of object B.

The magnitude of the relative velocity (relative speed) is the same but the direction of relative velocity
is reversed.

MASTERS ACADEMY 1- Anasagar Circular Road, Opp. Chaupati, Ajmer.  0145-2633111

 Relative Motion C[2]
ONSERVAT

Case (1) When the bodies are moving along parallel lines in the same direction,   00 , cos   cos 00  1

  
v BA  v B  v A v BA  v B  v A

  
v AB  v A  v B v AB  v A  v B

difference between the two speeds vA and vB

Case (2) When the bodies are moving along parallel lines in the opposite directions,
  180 , cos   cos180  1
0 0

  
v BA  v B  v A

vBA  vB  (vA ) v BA  v B  v A
  
v AB  v A  v B

vAB  vA  (vB ) v AB  v A  v B

Sum of the two speeds vA and vB

Check Point 61:- An object A is moving with 5 m/s and B is moving with 20 m/s in the same
direction. (Positive x-axis)
(i) Find velocity of B with respect to A.
(ii) Find velocity of A with respect to B
Sol : (i) vB = +20 m/s vA = +5 m/s vBA = vB – vA = +15 m/s
(ii) vB = +20 m/s, vA = +15 m/s ; vAB = vA – vB = – 15 m/s
Note : vBA = – vAB
Check Point 62 :- Two objects A and B are moving towards each other with velocities 10 m/s and 12
m/s respectively as shown.

(i) Find the velocity of A with respect to B.

(ii) Find the velocity of B with respect to A
Sol : vA = +10 , vB = – 12
(i) vAB = vA – vB = (10) – (–12) = 22 m/s.
(ii) vBA = vB – vA = (–12) – (10) = –22 m/s.
Velocity of Approach / Separation
It is the component of relative velocity of one particle w.r.t. another, along the line joining
them.
If the separation is decreasing, we say it is velocity of approach and if separation is
increasing, then we say it is velocity of separation.
In one dimension, since relative velocity is along the line joining A and B, hence velocity of
approach / separation is simply equal to magnitude of relative velocity of A w.r.t. B.

MASTERS ACADEMY 1- Anasagar Circular Road, Opp. Chaupati, Ajmer.  0145-2633111

 Relative Motion C[3]
ONSERVAT
Check Point 63:- A particle A is moving with a speed of 10 m/s towards right and another particle B
is moving at speed of 12 m/s towards left. Find their velocity of approach.

Sol : VA = +10 , VB = – 12  VAB = VA – VB  10 – (–12) = 22 m/s

since separation is decreasing hence Vapp = |VAB| = 22 m/s
Check Point 64:- A particle A is moving with a speed of 20 m/s towards right and another particle B
is moving at a speed of 5 m/s towards right. Find their velocity of approach.

Sol : VA = +20 , VB = +5
VAB = VA – VB
20 – (+5) = 15 m/s
since separation is decreasing hence Vapp = |VAB| = 15 m/s
Check Point 65:- A particle A is moving with a speed of 10 m/s towards right, particle B is moving at
a speed of 10 m/s towards right and another particle C is moving at speed of 10 m/s
towards left. The separation between A and B is 100 m. Find the time interval between
C meeting B and C meeting A.

100m
10m/s 10m/s

A B
10m/s

seperation between A and C

Sol : t =
Vapp of A and C

100
= = 5 sec.
10 – ( 10)
Check Point 66:- Two trains, each of length 100 m, are running on parallel tracks. One overtakes the
other in 20 seconds and one crosses the other in 10 seconds. Calculate the velocity of each train.
Sol. Let u and v be the velocities of the trains in ms–1.
Relative velocity of overtaking = u  v
Relative velocity of crossing = u + v
Total distance = 100 + 100 = 200 m

200
 20 =
uv
u  v = 10 ...(i)
200
10 =
uv
MASTERS ACADEMY 1- Anasagar Circular Road, Opp. Chaupati, Ajmer.  0145-2633111
 Relative Motion C[4]
ONSERVAT
u + v = 20 ...(ii)
solving eqs. (i) and (ii), u = 15 ms –1
; v = 5 ms –1

vA  vB vA < vB

vB < vA vA a` nd vB are of opposite signs

Relative Acceleration
It is the rate at which relative velocity is changing.

d v AB dv A dv B
aAB = = – = aA – aB
dt dt dt

Equations of motion when relative acceleration is constant.

vrel = urel + arel t

1
srel = urel t + a t2
2 rel

v2rel = u2rel + 2arel sre

d d
Note : aapp =  v app , asep = v sep
 dt  dt


vapp = a app dt , vsep =  a sep dt
Check Point 67:- A and B are thrown vertically upward with velocity, 5 m/s and 10 m/s respectively
(g = 10 m/s2. Find separation between them after one second
1
Sol : SA = ut – gt2
2

1
= 5t – × 10 × t2
2

MASTERS ACADEMY 1- Anasagar Circular Road, Opp. Chaupati, Ajmer.  0145-2633111

 Relative Motion C[5]
ONSERVAT
= 5 × 1 – 5 × 12

= 5 – 5 = 0

1 1
SB = ut – gt2 . = 10  1 –  10  12 = 10 – 5 = 5
2 2

 SB – SA = separation = 5m.

Aliter :
  
aBA = a B – a A = (–10) – (–10) = 0
  
Also v BA = v B – v A = 10 – 5 = 5 m/s
 
 sBA (in 1 sec) = v BA  t

= 5  1
= 5 m
 Distance between A and B after 1 sec = 5 m.

Check Point 68:- A ball is thrown downwards with a speed of 20 m/s from the
top of a building 150 m high and simultaneously another ball is thrown
vertically upwards with a speed of 30 m/s from the foot of the
building. Find the time after which both the balls will meet. (g = 10
m/s2)
Sol: S1 = 20 t + 5 t2
S2 = 30 t – 5 t2
S1 + S2 = 150
 150 = 50 t
 t = 3 s
Aliter :
Relative acceleration of both is zero since both have same acceleration in downward
direction
  
a AB = a A – aB = g – g = 0

v BA = 30 – (–20) = 50

sBA = vBA  t

sBA 150
t = v = = 3 s
BA 50

Relative Motion in Two Dimension


rA = position of A with respect to O

rB = position of B with respect to O

rAB = position of A with respect to B.

MASTERS ACADEMY 1- Anasagar Circular Road, Opp. Chaupati, Ajmer.  0145-2633111

 Relative Motion C[6]
ONSERVAT
       
rAB  rA  rB (The vector sum rA  rB ) rBA  rB  rA
     
d ( rAB ) d ( rA ) d ( rB ) d (rBA ) d (rB ) d (rA )
 = – .  = – .
dt dt dt dt dt dt
     
 v AB  v A  v B vBA  v B  v A
     
d ( v AB ) d(v A ) d(v B ) d (v BA ) d (v B ) d (v A )
= – = –
dt dt dt dt dt dt
     
 a AB  a A  aB a BA  a B  a A
Check Point 69:- Object A and B both have speed of 10 m/s. A is moving towards East while B is moving

towards North starting from the same point as shown. Find velocity of A relative to B ( v AB )

 
Sol : v A = 10 î , v B = 10 ĵ N
  
v AB = v A – v B = 10 î – 10 ĵ
  W
v A  vB = v 2A  v B2  2v A v B cos  , B 45º
45º VAB

 v AB = 102 S A
Check Point 70:- Two particles A and B are projected in air. A is thrown with a speed of 30 m/
sec and B with a speed of 40 m/sec as shown in the figure. What is the separation between
them after 1 sec.
     40
Sol : a AB = a A – aB = g  g = 0 vB
 30
 v AB = 30 2  40 2 = 50 vA
B
 sAB = vABt = 50 t = 50 m 53°
A
37°
Relative Motion in River Flow

If a man can swim relative to water with velocity v mR and water is flowing relative to ground
 
with velocity v R , velocity of man relative to ground v m will be given by :
  
v mR = v m – v R
  
or v m = v mR + v R
  
If v R = 0, then v m = v mR
velocity of man in still water = velocity of man w.r.t. river
River Problem in One Dimension
Case - 1 Man swimming downstream (along the direction of river flow)
  
v m = v mR + v R = u + v

MASTERS ACADEMY 1- Anasagar Circular Road, Opp. Chaupati, Ajmer.  0145-2633111

 Relative Motion C[7]
ONSERVAT
Case - 2 Man swimming upstream (opposite to the direction of river flow)
  
v m = v mR + v R = (v – u)

Check Point 71:- A swimmer capable of swimming with velocity ‘v’ relative to water jumps in a
flowing river having velocity ‘u’ . The man swims a distance d down stream and returns back to
the original position. Find out the time taken in complete motion.
Sol : Total time = time of swimming downstream + time of swimming upstream
d d 2dv
t = tdown + tup = + =
v u v u v  u2
2

River problem in two dimension


Consider a man swimming in a river with a velocity of v MR relative to river at an
angle of  with the river flow

The velocity of river is VR .
Let there be two observers  and  , observer  is on ground and observer  is on a raft
floating along with the river and hence moving with the same velocity as that of river.
Hence motion w.r.t. observer  is same as motion w.r.t. river. i.e. the man will appear to
swim at an angle  with the river flow for observer  .
  
For observer  the velocity of swimmer will be v M = v MR + v R ,
Hence the swimmer will appear to move at an angle ’ with the river flow.

Observer  vMR
d
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
--------------

Observer 

 : Motion of swimmer for observer   : Motion of swimmer for observer 


Consider a man swimming in a river with a velocity of v MR relative to river at an angle of
 with the river flow
The velocity of river is VR and the width of the river is d
x
  
v M = v MR + v R
y

 v M = (vMRcos î + vMRsin ĵ ) + vR î d VMR VM
 x
 v M = (vMRcos + vR) î + vMRsin ĵ

   VR
VM  Vx  Vy

Vx  (VMR Cos  VR )iˆ Vy  (VR sin  )ˆj

Crossing River : vMRsinis the component of velocity of man in the direction perpendicular to the
MASTERS ACADEMY 1- Anasagar Circular Road, Opp. Chaupati, Ajmer.  0145-2633111
 Relative Motion C[8]
ONSERVAT
river flow. This component of velocity is responsible for the man crossing the river. Hence
if the time to cross the river is t , then
d d
t = = v MR sin 
vy

Drift : The displacement of man in the direction of river flow. (in x direction).
Drift = vx × t
d
x = (vMRcos + vR)×
v MR sin 
Case I : Crossing the river in shortest time
d
t =
v MR sin 
t will be minimum when  = 90° i.e. time to cross the river will be minimum if man swims
perpendicular to the river flow.
d
tmin = VMR
VM
v MR

Case II : Crossing the river in shortest path, Minimum Drift VR

The minimum possible drift is zero.
In this case the man swims in the direction perpendicular to the river flow as seen from the
ground. This path is known as shortest path
xmin = 0  (vMRcos + vR) = 0

vR
cos   
v MR
cos  is – ve,  > 90° , i.e. for minimum drift the man must swim at some angle  with
the perpendicular in backward direction.
vR
sin  = VR
v MR
VMR
Time to cross the river along the shortest path
VM

d d 
t = =
v MR sin  2
v MR  VR2

Check Point 72:- A 400 m wide river is flowing at a rate of 2.0 m/s.A boat is sailing with a velocity of
10 m/s with respect to the water, in a direction perpendicular to the river.
(a) Find the time taken by the boat to reach the opposite bank.
(b) How far from the point directly opposite to the starting point does the boat reach the
opposite bank.
(c) In what direction does the boat actually move, with river flow (downstream).
Sol : (a) time taken to cross the river
d 400 m
t = v = 10 m / s = 40 s
y

(b) drift (x) = (vx)(t) = (2m/s) (40s) = 80 m

(c) Actual direction of boat,

MASTERS ACADEMY 1- Anasagar Circular Road, Opp. Chaupati, Ajmer.  0145-2633111

 Relative Motion C[9]
ONSERVAT

 10 
 = tan–1   = tan–1 5, (downstream) with the river flow.
 2 
Check Point 73:- A man can swim at the rate of 5 km/h in still water. A 1 km wide river flows at the
rate of 3 km/h. The man wishes to swim across the river directly opposite to the starting
point.
(a) Along what direction must the man swim?
(b) What should be his resultant velocity?
(c) How much time will he take to cross the river?
Sol : The velocity of man with respect to river vmR= 5 km/hr, this is greater than the river flow
velocity, therefore, he can cross the river directly (along the shortest path). The angle of
swim must be
  vr   v  3
 = + sin–1   = 90º + sin-1  r  = 90º + sin–1  5 
2  v mR   v mR   

(b) Resultant velocity will be vm = 2

v mR  v R2 = 52  32 = 4 km/hr along the direction
perpendicular to the river flow.
(c) time taken to cross the
d 1 km 1
t = = = h = 15 min
2
v mR  v R2 4 km / hr 4

Check Point 74:- A boat moves relative to water with a velocity v which is n times less than the river
flow velocity u. At what angle to the stream direction must the boat move to minimize
drifting?
Sol : (In this problem, one thing should be carefully noted that the velocity of boat is less
than the river flow velocity. Hence boat cannot reach the point directly opposite to its
starting point. i.e. drift can never be zero.)
Suppose boat starts at an angle  from the normal direction up stream as shown.
Component of velocity of boat along the river, vx = u – v sin 
and velocity perpendicular to the river, v y = v cos .
d d
time taken to cross the river is t = v = .
y v cos 
Drift x = (vx)t B drift = x C
d
= (u – v sin ) y
v cos 
d u
x
ud v  v cos

= sec  – d tan 
v
A u-v sin

dx
The drift x is minimum, when = 0,
d

 ud 
  (sec  . tan ) – d sec2  = 0
 v 

u
sin  = 1
v

v
sin  
u

MASTERS ACADEMY 1- Anasagar Circular Road, Opp. Chaupati, Ajmer.  0145-2633111

 Relative Motion C[10]
ONSERVAT

Rain Problem If rain is falling vertically with a velocity v R and an observer is moving horizontally

with velocity v m , the velocity of rain relative to observer will be :
  
v Rm = v R – v m or vRm = v R2  v m
2

v 
and direction  = tan–1  v  with the vertical as shown in figure.
m

 R

–vm


vRm
vR

Check Point 75:- Rain is falling vertically at speed of 10 m/s and a man is moving with velocity 6 m/
s. Find the angle at which the man should hold his umbrella to avoid getting wet.
Sol :  
v rain = –10 ĵ  v man = 6 ĵ

v r.w.r.t. man = –10 ĵ – 6 î
6 3
tan  =   = tan–1  
10 5
Where  is angle with vertical
Check Point 76:- A man moving with 5m/s observes rain falling vertically at the rate of 10 m/s. Find
the speed and direction of the rain with respect to ground.
Sol : vRM = 10 m/s, vM = 5 m/s
  
v RM = v R – v M
   
 vR = v RM + v M  vR = 5 5

1 1
tan  = ,  = tan–1 .
2 2

Check Point 77 :- A standing man, observes rain falling with velocity of 20 m/s at an angle of 30º
with the vertical.
(i) Find the velocity with which the man should move so that rain appears to fall vertically to
him.

Sol : (i) v m = –v î (let)

v R = –10 î – 103 ĵ

v RM = –(10 – v) î – 103 ĵ
 – (10 – v) = 0 (for vertical fall, horizontal component must be zero)
or v = 10 m/s
Velocity of Approach / Separation in two dimension
It is the component of relative velocity of one particle w.r.t. another, along the line joining
them. If the separation is decreasing, we say it is velocity of approach and if separation is
increasing, then we say it is velocity of separation.

MASTERS ACADEMY 1- Anasagar Circular Road, Opp. Chaupati, Ajmer.  0145-2633111

 Relative Motion C[11]
ONSERVAT
Check Point 78:- Particle A is at rest and particle B is moving
with constant velocity v as shown in the diagram at t = 0. B v
Find their velocity of separation
Sol : vBA = vB – vA = v
vsep = component of vBA along line AB = vcos
A
Check Point 79:- Two particles A and B are moving with constant veloci-
ties v1 and v2 . At t = 0, v1 makes an angle 1 with the line
joining A and B and v2 makes an angle 2 with the line v1
1  2 v2
joining A and B. Find their velocity of A B
approach. d
Sol : Velocity of approach is relative velocity along line AB
vAPP = v1cos1 + v2cos2
Check Point 80:- Particles A and B are moving as shown in the diagram at t = 0. Find their velocity of
separation
(i) at t = 0
(ii) at t = 1 sec. 4m/s

3m
3m/s

B
4m
4m/s
Sol : (i) tan  = 3/4
4cos
vsep = relative velocity along line AB 4sin

= 3cos + 4sin A
4 3 24 3m 3sin
= 3. + 4. = = 4.8 m/s
5 5 5  3m/s
(ii)  = 45° B
4m
3cos
v

sep
= relative velocity along line AB

= 3cos + 4sin
1 7
= 3. 1 + 4. = m/s
2 2 2

4m/s
4cos
4sin

A
3sin
7m
= 45° 3m/s

7m B
3cos

MASTERS ACADEMY 1- Anasagar Circular Road, Opp. Chaupati, Ajmer.  0145-2633111

 Relative Motion C[12]
ONSERVAT

Condition for uniformly moving particles to collide

If two particles are moving with uniform velocities and the relative velocity of one
particle w.r.t. other particle is directed towards each other then they will collide.
Check Point 81:- Two particles A and B are moving with constant veloci-
ties v1 and v2 . At t = 0, v1 makes an angle 1 with the line
joining A and B and v2 makes an angle 2 with the line join-
ing A and B.
(i) Find the condition for A and B to collide. v1
1  2 v2
(ii) Find the time after which A and B will collide A B
if separation between them is d at t = 0 d
Sol : (i) For A and B to collide, their relative velocity must be directed along the line joining them.
Therefore their relative velocity along the perpendicular to this line must be zero.
Thus v1 sin1 = v2 sin2 .
(ii) vAPP = v1cos1 + v2cos2
d d
t = 
v app v 1 cos 1  v 2 cos  2
Minimum / Maximum distance between two particles
If the separation between two particles decreases and after some time it starts increasing
then the separation between them will be minimum at the instant, velocity of approach
changes to velocity of separation. (at this instant vapp = 0)
dS AB
Mathematically SAB is minimum when = 0
dt
Similarly for maximum separation vsep = 0.
Check Point 82:- Two cars A and B are moving west to east and south to north respectively along
crossroads. A moves with a speed of 72 kmh–1 and is 500 m away from point of intersec-
tion of cross roads and B moves with a speed of 54 kmh–1 and is 400 m away from point of
intersection of cross roads. Find the shortest distance between them?
Sol : (Using the concept of relative velocity of approach)
After time t let us plot the components of velocity of
A and B in the direction along AB. When the distance
between the two is minimum, the relative velocity of
approach is zero.
 VA cosf+ VB sinf = 0
(where f is the angle made by the line A’B’ with
the x-axis)
20 cosf = – 15 sinf
20 4
 tanf =  = 
15 3
400  15 t 4
 = 
500  20 t 3
128
 t = So, OB’ = 16 m and OA’ = – 12m
5
A’B’ = 16 2  ( 12)2 = 20 m
20km/h 1
Check Point 83:- Two ships are 10 km apart on a line joining south to north.
The one farther north is steaming west at 20 km h–1. The other is 10km
20km/h
steaming north at 20 km h–1. What is their distance of closest
approach ? How long do they take to reach it ? 2
Sol : When the distance between the two is minimum, the relative velocity of approach is zero.
 VA cosf+ VB sinf = 0
20 cosf = 20 sinf
MASTERS ACADEMY 1- Anasagar Circular Road, Opp. Chaupati, Ajmer.  0145-2633111
 Relative Motion C[13]
ONSERVAT

20
 tanf = = 1
20
10  20t
 1
20t
40t  10
 t = 15 min
Check Point 84:- Two particles A and B are moving with uniform velocity as shown in
the figure given below at t = 0.
(i) Will the two particle collide
(ii) Find out shortest distance between two particles
Sol : Solving from the frame of B
10 1
tan  = =
20 2
A 10 m/s D O
AD AD 1
again tan  = = = 
CD 40 2 20 m/s VBA

 AD = 20  DO = 10  BC = 10

10  2
dshort = BC cos  = 10 cos  = = 4 5m C
B
5 
dshort

Since closest distance is non zero therefore they

will not collide
Check Point85:- There are particles A, B and C are situated at the vertices of an equilateral triangle
ABC of side a at t = 0. Each of the particles moves with constant speed v. A always has
its velocity along AB, B along BC and C along CA. At what time will the particle meet
each other?
Sol : The motion of the particles is roughly sketched
in figure. By symmetry they will meet at the
centroid O of the triangle. At any instant the
particles will from an equilateral triangle ABC
with the same O
Centroid O. All the particles will meet at
the centre. Concentrate on the motion of
any one particle, say B. At any instant its
velocity makes angle 30º with BO.
The component of this velocity along BO is
v cos 30º. This component is the rate of decrease of the distance BO.
Initially.
a/2 a
BO = = = displacement of each particle.
cos 30 º 3
Therefore, the time taken for BO to become zero
a/ 3 2a 2a
= = = .
v cos 30 º 3v  3 3v
Aliter : Velocity of B is v along BC. The velocity of C is along CA. Its component along
BC is v cos 60º = v/2. Thus, the separation BC decreases at the rate of approach
velocity.
v 3v
 approach velocity = v + =
2 2

MASTERS ACADEMY 1- Anasagar Circular Road, Opp. Chaupati, Ajmer.  0145-2633111

 Relative Motion C[14]
ONSERVAT
Since, the rate of approach is constant,
v
the time taken in reducing the separation
BC from a to zero is
a 2a v 60º(
t =  B C
3v 3v v cos 60º
2

Check Point 86:- Six particles situated at the corners of a regular hexagon of side a move at a
constant speed v. Each particle maintains a direction towards the particle at the next
corner. Calculate the time the particles will take to meet each other.
Sol : Vapp = V – Vcos 60° = V – V/2 = V/2 a
a a
a a 2a
t = Vapp = =
V/2 V
v
a a
a 60°
v vcos60

Check Point 87:- ‘A’ moves with constant velocity u along the ‘x’ axis. B always
has velocity towards A. After how much time will B meet A if B moves with
constant speed v. What distance will be travelled by A and B.

Sol : Let at any instant the velocity of B makes an angle  with that of x axis
and the time to collide is T.
v app = v – u cos 
T T

 = v
0
app dt =  ( v – u cos  ) dt ............ (1)
0

Now equating the displacement of A and B along x direction we get

uT =  v cos  dt ....... (2)

Now from (1) and (2)

T T
u
 = vT –  u cos  dt
0
= vT – v  v cos  dt
0

u
= vT – . uT
v

v
 T =
v 2  u2
Now distance travelled by A and B
v v uv  v2 
= u × and v × = and
v u
2 2
v u2 2
v u
2 2
v  u2
2

MASTERS ACADEMY 1- Anasagar Circular Road, Opp. Chaupati, Ajmer.  0145-2633111