Relative Motion

RELATIVE MOTION
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1. RELATIVE MOTION
Motion is a combined property of the object under study as well as the observer. It is always relative ;
there is no such thing like absolute motion or absolute rest. Motion is always defined with respect to an
observer or reference frame.
Reference frame :
Reference frame is an axis system from which motion is observed along with a clock attached to the
axis, to measure time. Reference frame can be stationary or moving.
 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.

2. RELATIVE MOTION IN ONE DIMENSION :

2.1. 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 x A and that of B w.r.t. origin is xB then “Position of A w.r.t. B”
xAB is
xB xAB
xA

Origin B A
xAB = xA – xB
Solved Example
Example 1. See the figure (take +ve direction towards right and –ve towards left). Find xBA, xCA, xCB, xAB and
xAC.
A B C

4m 6m

10m
origin
Here, Position of B w.r.t. A is 4 m towards right. (xBA = +4m)
Position of C w.r.t. A is 10 m towards right. (xCA = +10m)
Position of C w.r.t. B is 6 m towards right (xCB = +6m)
Position of A w.r.t. B is 4 m towards left. (xAB = –4 m)
Position of A w.r.t. C is 10 m towards left. (xAC = –10m)

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Relative Motion

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2.2. Relative Velocity
Definition : 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 1 : 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.
Relative velocity in one dimension -
If xA is the position of A w.r.t. ground, xB is position of B w.r.t. ground and x AB is position of A w.r.t. B
dx A
then we can say vA = velocity of A w.r.t. ground =
dt
dxB
vB = velocity of B w.r.t. ground =
dt
dx AB d dx A dxB
and vAB = velocity of A w.r.t. B = = (x A  xB ) = –
dt dt dt dt
Thus vAB = vA – vB
NOTE 2 : Velocity of an object w.r.t. itself is always zero.
Solved Example
Example 2. 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
Solution :
(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
Example 3. 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
Solution : vA = +10, vB = – 12
(i) vAB = vA – vB = (10) – (–12) = 22 m/s.
(ii) vBA = vB – vA = (–12) – (10) = –22 m/s.
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2.3. Relative Acceleration
It is the rate at which relative velocity is changing.
dv 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 + arel t2
2
v2rel = u2rel + 2arel srel
2.4. 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.

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Relative Motion
Solved Example
Example 4. 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.

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

since separation is decreasing hence Vapp = |VAB| = 22 m/s
Ans. 22 m/s
Example 5. 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.

Solution : VA = +20, VB = +5 
VAB = VA – VB 
20 – (+5) = 15 m/s
since separation is decreasing hence Vapp = |VAB| = 15 m/s
Ans. 15 m/s
Example 6. 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

C
seperation between A and C 100
Solution : t= = = 5 sec.
Vapp of A and C 10 – ( 10)
Ans. : 5 sec.
 d d
Note : aapp =   v app , asep = v sep
 dt  dt
vapp = a app dt , vsep = a sep dt

Example 7. A and B are thrown vertically upward with velocity, 5 m/s and 10 m/s respectively (g = 10 m/s 2.
Find separation between them after one second
1
Solution : SA = ut – gt2
2
1
= 5t – × 10 × t2 = 5 × 1 – 5 × 12 = 5 – 5 = 0
2
1 1
SB = ut – gt2 = 10 × 1 – × 10 × 12 = 10 – 5 = 5
2 2
   SB – SA = separation = 5m.
Aliter : aBA = aB – aA = (–10) – (–10) = 0
Also vBA = vB – v A = 10 – 5 = 5 m/s
   sBA (in 1 sec) = vBA × t = 5 × 1= 5 m
 Distance between A and B after 1 sec = 5 m.

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 Relative Motion
Example 8. 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)
Solution : 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
aAB = aA – aB = g – g = 0
vBA = 30 – (–20) = 50
sBA = vBA × t
s 150
t = BA = =3s
v BA 50

Example 9. Two cars C1 and C2 moving in the same direction on a straight single lane road with velocities
12 m/s and 10 m/s respectively. When the separation between the two was 200 m C2 started
accelerating to avoid collision. What is the minimum acceleration of car C 2 so that they don’t
collide.

Solution : Acceleration of car 1 w.r.t. car 2

a12  a1  a2 = aC1 – aC2 = 0 – a = (–a)
u12 = u1 – u2 = 12 – 10 = 2 m/s.
The collision is just avoided if relative velocity becomes zero just at the moment the two cars
meet each other.
i.e. v12 = 0 When s12 = 200
Now v12 = 0, u12 = 2, a12 = – a and s12 = 200 
    2
v12 – u12
2
= 2a12s12
1
 0 – 22 = – 2 × a × 200  a= m/s2 = 0.1 m/s2 = 1 cm/s2.
100
 Minimum acceleration needed by car C2 = 1 cm/s2
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3. 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.
rAB  rA  rB (The vector sum rA  rB can be done by  law of
addition or resolution method)
d(rAB ) d(rA ) d(rB )
 = – .
dt dt dt
d(v AB ) d(v A ) d(v B )
 vAB  v A  vB ; = –  aAB  aA  aB
dt dt dt

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Relative Motion
Solved Example
Example 10. 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.

Solution :
Method 1 : v AB = v A – vB  v AB = 102

Method 2 : v A = 10 î , vB = 10 ĵ
v AB = v A – vB = 10 î – 10 ĵ  v AB = 102

Note : v A  v B = v2A  vB2  2v A vB cos  , where  is angle between v A and vB .

Example 11. 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 m/s

vB

30 m/s
vA
B
A
53° 37°
Solution : aAB = aA – aB = g  g = 0  v AB = 302  402 = 50 sAB = vABt = 50 t = 50 m
Example 12. An old man and a boy are walking towards each other and a bird is flying over them as shown
in the figure.

m/s
12 m/s 20
37º
bird
16 m/s

2m/s
Tree ĵ
Boy 16 m/s old person

î
(1) Find the velocity of tree, bird and old man as seen by boy.
(2) Find the velocity of tree, bird and boy as seen by old man
(3) Find the velocity of tree, boy and old man as seen by bird.
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 Relative Motion
Solution :
(1) With respect to boy :
vtree = 16 m/s () or –16 î
vbird = 12 m/s () or 12 ĵ
vold man = 18 m/s () or –18 î
(2) With respect to old man :
vBoy = 18 m/s () or 18 î
vTree = 2 m/s () or 2 î
vBird = 18 m/s () and 12 m/s () or 18 î + 12ˆj
(3) With respect to Bird : vTree = 12 m/s () and 16 m/s () or –12 ĵ –16 î
vold man = 18 m/s () and 12 m/s () or–18 î –12 ĵ
vBoy= 12 m/s () or –12 ĵ
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3.2. Relative Motion in Lift
Projectile motion in a lift moving with acceleration a upwards
(1) In the reference frame of lift, acceleration of a freely falling object is (g + a)
(2) Velocity at maximum height = ucos
2usin 
(3) T =
ga
u2 sin2 
(4) Maximum height (H) =
2(g  a)
u2 sin 2
(5) Range =
ga
Solved Example
Example 13. A lift is moving up with acceleration a. A person inside the lift throws the ball upwards with a
velocity u relative to hand.

(a) What is the time of flight of the ball?

(b) What is the maximum height reached by the ball in the lift?
Solution :
(a) aBL = aB – aL = g + a
s = u t + 1 a t2
BL
2
0 = uT – 1/2 (g + a)T2   
2u
     T =
(g  a)
(b) v2 – u2 = 2 as
0 – u2 = –2(g + a) H
u2
H=
2(g  a)

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Relative Motion

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4. RELATIVE MOTION IN RIVER FLOW
If a man can swim relative to water with velocity vmR and water is flowing relative to ground with velocity
vR , velocity of man relative to ground vm will be given by :
vmR = vm – vR or vm = vmR + vR
If vR = 0, then vm = vmR in words, velocity of man in still water = velocity of man w.r.t. river

4.1. River Problem in One Dimension :

  Velocity of river is u & velocity of man in still water is v.
Case (i) : Man swimming downstream (along the direction of river
flow). In this case velocity of river vR = + u (u + v)
velocity of man w.r.t. river vmR = +v u
now vm = vmR + vR = u + v
Case (ii) : Man swimming upstream (opposite to the direction of river
flow). In this case velocity of river vR = – u
(v - u)
velocity of man w.r.t. river vmR = +v u
now vm = vmR + vR = (v – u)
Solved Example
Example 14. 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.
Solution : Total time = time of swimming downstream + time of swimming upstream
d d 2dv
t = tdown + tup = + = 2 Ans.
v u v u v  u2
———————————————————————————————————
4.2. Motion of Man Swimming in a River
Consider a man swimming in a river with a velocity of vMR 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 vM = vMR + vR ,
Hence the swimmer will appear to move at an angle ’ with the river flow.
x

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

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

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Relative Motion
4.3. River problem in two dimension (crossing river) :
Consider a man swimming in a river with a velocity of vMR 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

y
d VMR VM
x

VR

vM = vMR + vR  vM = (vMRcos î + vMRsin ĵ ) +vR î  vM = (vMRcos + vR) î + vMRsin ĵ 

Here vMR sinis the component of velocity of man in the direction perpendicular to the river flow. This
component of velocity is responsible for the man crossing the river. Hence if the time to cross the river
d d
is t, then t = =
vy v MR sin
DRIFT
It is defined as the displacement of man in the direction of river flow. (See the figure). It is simply the
displacement along x-axis, during the period the man crosses the river. (vMRcos + vR)is the component of
velocity of man in the direction of river flow and this component of velocity is responsible for drift along the
river flow. If drift is x then,
Drift = vx × t
d
x = (vMRcos + vR)×
v MR sin
4.4. Crossing the river in shortest time
d
As we know that t = . Clearly t will be minimum when  = 90° i.e. time to cross the river will be
v MR sin
d
minimum if man swims perpendicular to the river flow. Which is equal to .
v MR
4.5. Crossing the river in shortest path, Minimum Drift
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
v
here xmin = 0  (vMRcos + vR) = 0 or cos = – R
v MR
 since cos is –ve,  > 90°, i.e. for minimum drift the man must swim at some angle  with the
vR
perpendicular in backward direction. Where sin  =
v MR
 v R  vR
  = cos1    < 1 i.e. vR < vMR
 vMR  vMR
 i.e. minimum drift is zero if and only if velocity of man in still water is greater than or equal to the
velocity of river.
Time to cross the river along the shortest path

VR

VMR
VM



d d
t= =
v MR sin v 2
MR  VR2
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Relative Motion

Note :
 If vR > vMR then it is not possible to have zero drift. In this case the minimum drift
(corresponding to shortest possible path is non zero and the condition for minimum drift
v  v 
can be proved to be cos = –  MR  or sin  =  MR  for minimum but non zero drift.
 vR   vR 
Solved Example
Example 15. 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).
Solution :

d 400m
(a) time taken to cross the river t = = = 40 s Ans.
vy 10m / s
(b) drift (x) = (vx)(t) = (2m/s) (40s) = 80 m Ans.
 10 
(c) Actual direction of boat,  = tan–1  –1
 = tan 5, (downstream) with the river flow.
 2 
Example 16. 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?
Solution :
(a) 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
  v   v  3
= + sin–1  r  = 90º + sin-1  r  = 90º + sin–1   = 90º + 37º
2  v mR   v mR  5
= 127º w.r.t. the river flow or 37° w.r.t. perpendicular in backward direction Ans.
(b) Resultant velocity will be
vm = 2
vmR  vR2 = 52  32 = 4 km/hr
along the direction perpendicular to the river flow.
d 1km 1
(c) time taken to cross the t = = = h = 15 min
v 2
mR v 2
R
4km / hr 4

Example 17. A man wishing to cross a river flowing with velocity u jumps at an angle with the river flow.
(i) Find the net velocity of the man with respect to ground if he can swim with speed v in still water.
(ii) In what direction does the man actually move.
(iii) Find how far from the point directly opposite to the starting point does the man reach the
opposite bank, if the width of the river is d. (i.e. drift)

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Relative Motion
Solution :
(i) vMR = v , vR = u ; vM = vMR + vR
 Velocity of man,
vM = u2  v2  2vucos  Ans.
v sin 
(ii) tan  = Ans. v M  v MR  v R
u  v cos 
d
(iii) (v sin) t = d  t= ;
v sin
d
x = (u + v cos ) t = (u + v cos)
v sin
Example 18. 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 ?
Solution : (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, B drift = x C
vy = v cos .
time taken to cross the river is y
d d d u
t= = . x
vy v cos  v v cos

d
Drift x = (vx)t = (u – v sin )
v cos  A u-v sin

ud
= sec  – d tan 
v
dx
The drift x is minimum, when = 0,
d
 ud 
 (sec  . tan ) – d sec  = 0
or  2
 v 
u v
or sin  = 1 or sin  =
v u
This is the result we stated without proof as a note in section 4.5
v 1
so, for minimum drift, the boat must move at an angle  = sin–1   = sin–1 from normal direction.
u n
———————————————————————————————————
5. WIND AIRPLANE PROBLEMS
This is very similar to boat river flow problems. The only difference is that boat is replaced by aeroplane
and river is replaced by wind.
Thus, velocity of aeroplane with respect to wind
vaw  va  v w or va  vaw  v w
where, v a = velocity of aeroplane w.r.t. ground and, v w = velocity of wind.
Solved Example
Example 19. An aeroplane flies along a straight path A to B and returns back again. The distance between A
and B is  and the aeroplane maintains the constant speed v w.r.t. wind. There is a steady wind
with a speed u at an angle  with line AB. Determine the expression for the total time of the trip.

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 Relative Motion
Solution : Suppose plane is oriented at an angle  w.r.t. line AB
while the plane is moving from A to B :
Velocity of plane along AB = v cos – ucos,
and for no-drift from line AB ; v sin = usin
usin 
   sin =
v
'
time taken from A to B : tAB =
v cos   ucos 
Suppose plane is oriented at an angle ’ w.r.t. line AB
while the plane is moving from B to A :
velocity of plane along BA = vcos + u cos and for no drift from line AB ; vsin = usin
usin 
 sin =    = ’
v
time taken from B to A : tBA =
v cos   ucos 
total time taken = tAB + tBA = +
v cos   ucos  v cos   ucos 
u sin 
2 2
2v 1
2v cos  v2
= = .
v 2 cos2  – u2 cos 2  v u
2 2

Example 20. Find the time an aeroplane having velocity v, takes to fly around a square with side a if the wind
is blowing at a velocity u along one side of the square.
Answer :
2a
v 2  u2

v  v 2  u2 
Solution :
D C

vwind= u

A B
Velocity of aeroplane while flying through AB
vA=v+u
a
vA = v + u ; tAB =
v u
Velocity of aeroplane while flying through BC u
vA = v u
2 2
; v A  v 2  u2
v
a
tBC =
v 2  u2
v u
Velocity of aeroplane while flying through CD
vA=v – u
a
vA = v – u ; tCD =
v–u
v
Velocity of aeroplane while flying through DA v A  v 2  u2
a
vA = v 2  u2 ; tDA = u
v  u2
2

Total time = tAB + tBC + tCD + tDA =

a
v u

a
v u
2 2

v
a
 u

a
v u
2 2
= 2
v
2a
 u2
v  v 2  u2  

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 Relative Motion

———————————————————————————————————
6. RAIN PROBLEM
If rain is falling vertically with a velocity vR and an
observer is moving horizontally with velocity vm , the –vm
velocity of rain relative to observer will be :

vRm = vR – vm or vRm = vR2  vm2 vRm
vR
 vm 
and direction  = tan–1   with the vertical as shown in
 vR 
figure
Solved Example
Example 21. 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.
Solution :

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

Example 22. 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.

Solution : vRM = 10 m/s, vM = 5 m/s

vRM = vR – vM
    vR = vRM + vM
    vR = 5 5
1 1
tan  = ,  = tan–1 .
2 2

Example 23. 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.
(ii) Now if he further increases his speed, rain again appears to fall at 30º with the vertical.
Find his new velocity.

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Relative Motion
Solution : m/s

(i) vm = –v î (let)

vR = –10 î – 10 3 ĵ
m/s

vRM = – (10 î – v) – 10 3 ĵ
 – (10 – v) = 0
(for vertical fall, horizontal component
must be zero)
or v = 10 m/s Ans.
(ii) vR = –10 î – 10 3 ĵ 10 m/s

vm = –vx î

vRM = – (10 – vx) î – 10 3 ĵ

m/s
Angle with the vertical = 30º
10  v x
 tan 30º =  vx = 20 m/s
10 3

———————————————————————————————————
7. 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.
Solved Example
Example 24. Particle A is at rest and particle B is moving with constant velocity v as shown in the diagram at
t = 0. Find their velocity of separation


B v

A
Solution : vBA = vB – vA = v
vsep = component of vBA along line AB = vcos

Example 25. Two particles A and B are moving with constant velocities v 1
v1
and v2. At t = 0, v1 makes an angle 1 with the line joining A and 1 2 v2
B and v2 makes an angle 2 with the line joining A and B. Find A B
d
their velocity of approach.
Solution : Velocity of approach is relative velocity along line AB
vAPP = v1cos1 + v2cos2

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Relative Motion
Example 26. Particles A and B are moving as shown in the diagram at t = 0. Find their velocity of separation
4m/s

3m
3m/s

B
4m
(i) at t = 0
(ii) at t = 1 sec.
Solution :
(i) tan  = 3/4
vsep = relative velocity along line AB
4m/s

4cos
4sin

3m 3sin

 3m/s

B
4m
3cos
4 3 24
= 3cos + 4sin= 3. + 4. = = 4.8 m/s
5 5 5
(ii)  = 45°
vsep = relative velocity along line AB
4m/s
4cos
4sin

A
3sin
7m
= 45° 3m/s

7m B
3cos

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

———————————————————————————————————
7.2. 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.

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Relative Motion
Solved Example
Example 27. Two particles A and B are moving with constant velocities
v1
v1 and v2. At t = 0, v1 makes an angle 1 with the line joining A 1 2 v2
and B and v2 makes an angle 2 with the line joining A and B. A B
(i) Find the condition for A and B to collide. d
(ii) Find the time after which A and B will collide if separation between them is d at t = 0
Solution :
(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.
d d
(ii) vAPP = v1cos1 + v2cos2 ; t = 
v app v1 cos 1  v 2 cos 2

———————————————————————————————————
7.3. 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.
Note :
 If the initial position of two particles are r1 and r2 and their velocities are v1 and v 2 then shortest
| r12  v12 |
distance between the particles, dshortest = and time after which this situation will occur,
| v12 |
r12 .v12
t=–
| v12 |2

Solved Example
Example 28. 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 intersection 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?
Solution :
Method 1 : (Using the concept of relative velocity)
In this method we watch the velocity of A w.r.t. B. To do this we plot the resultant velocity Vr.
Since the accelerations of both the bodies is zero, so the relative acceleration between them is
also zero. Hence the relative velocity will remain constant. So the path of A with respect to B
will be straight line and along the direction of relative velocity of A with respect to B. The
shortest distance between A & B is when A is at point F (i.e. when we drop a perpendicular
from B on the line of motion of A with respect to B).
From figure

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Relative Motion

VB 15 3
tan = = = ..........................(i)
VA 20 4
This  is the angle made by the resultant velocity vector with the x-axis.
Also we know that from figure
x 3
OE = = ..........................(ii)
500 4
From equation (i) & (ii) we get
 x = 375 m
 EB = OB – OE = 400 – 375 = 25 m
But the shortest distance is BF.
From magnified figure we see that BF = EB cos = 25 × 4/5
 BF = 20 m
Method 2 : (Using the concept of maxima – minima)
A & B be are the initial positions and A’, B’ be the final positions after time t.
B is moving with a speed of 15 m/sec so it will travel a distance of BB’ = 15t during time t.
A is moving with a speed of 20 m/sec so it will travel a distance of AA’ = 20t during time t.
So
OA’ =500 – 20 t
OB’ = 400 – 15 t
A’B’2 = OA’2 + OB’2
= (500 – 20t)2 + (400 – 15t)2 .....(i)
For A’B’ to be minimum A’B’2 should also be
minimum
d(A 'B '2 ) d(400  15t)2  (500  20t)2
 = =0
dt dt
= 2(400 – 15t) (–15) + 2(500 – 20t) (–20) = 0
= – 1200 + 45t = 2000 – 80 t
 125 t = 3200
128
 t= s.
5
128
Hence A and B will be closest after s.
5

d2 A 'B'
Now comes out to be positive hence it is a minima.
dt 2

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Relative Motion
On substituting the value of t in equation (i) we get
2 2
 128   128 
 A’B’2 =  400  15   +  500  20. 5   16  (12) = 20 m
2 2

 5   
 Minimum distance A’B’ = 20 m.
Method 3 : (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
(Here do not confuse this angle with the angle  in
method (I) because that  is the angle made by the net
relative velocity with x-axis, but f is the angle made by
the line joining the two particles with x-axis when velocity
of approach in zero.)
400  15t 4
 =
500  20t 3
128
 t= So, OB’ = 16 m and OA’ = – 12m
5
A’B’ = 162  (12)2 = 20 m

Example 29. Two ships are 10 km apart on a line joining south to north. The 20km/h 1
one farther north is steaming west at 20 km h–1. The other is
steaming north at 20 km h–1. What is their distance of closest 10km
20km/h
approach ? How long do they take to reach it ?
2
Solution : Solving from the frame of particle -1 1
d
sh
or
t
45°
10
we get dshort = 10 cos 45° = = 5 2 km
10km
20km/h
2
10 sin 45 10  1/ 2 1
t= = = h = 15 min. 45°
| V21 | 20 2 4
2 20km/h

Example 30. 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

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 Relative Motion
Solution : Solving from the frame of B A 10 m/s D O

10 1
we get tan = =  
VBA
20 2 20 m/s

AD AD 1
again tan = = =    
CD 40 2 
    AD = 20  DO = 10  BC = 10
B
10  2 C 
dshort = BC cos = 10 cos = = 4 5m dshort
5
Since closest distance is non zero therefore they will
not collide
———————————————————————————————————
7.4. Miscellaneous Problems on collision
Solved Example
Example 31. 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?
Solution : 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

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. Therefore,
cos30º 3
the time taken for BO to become zero
a/ 3 2a 2a
= = = .
v cos 30º 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
Since, the rate of approach is constant, the time taken in reducing
a 2a
the separation BC from a to zero is t = 
3v 3v
2

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Relative Motion
Example 32. 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.
Solution : Vapp = V – Vcos 60° = V – V/2 = V/2
a
a a

v
a a
a 60°
v vcos60
a a 2a
t= = =
Vapp V/2 V

Example 33. ‘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.

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

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

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

uT =  v cos  dt ....... (2)
Now from (1) and (2) we get

T T
u u
 = vT –  u cos  dt = vT –
0
v0 v cos  dt = vT – . uT
v
v
T=
v 2  u2
Now distance travelled by A and B
v v uv v2
=u× 2 and v × 2 = 2 and 2
v u 2
v u 2
v u2
v  u2

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Relative Motion

 Marked Questions can be used as Revision Questions.

PART - I : SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
Section (A) : Relative motion in one dimension
A-1. Two parallel rail tracks run north-south. Train A moves due north with a speed of 54 km h –1 and train B
moves due south with a speed of 90 km h–1. A monkey runs on the roof of train A with a velocity of
18 km/h w.r.t. train A in a direction opposite to that of A. Calculate the (a) relative velocity of B with
respect to A (b) relative velocity of ground with respect to B (c) velocity of a monkey as observed by a
man standing on the ground. (d) Velocity of monkey as observed by a passenger of train B.
A-2. A train is moving with a speed of 40 km/h. As soon as another train going in the opposite direction
passes by the window, the passenger of the first train starts his stopwatch and notes that other train
passes the window in 3 s. Find the speed of the train going in the opposite direction if its length is 75 m.
A-3. An object A is moving with 10 m/s and B is moving with 5 m/s in the same direction of positive x-axis.
A is 100 m behind B as shown. Find the time taken by A to meet B.

A-4. The driver of a train A running at 25 ms–1 sights a train B moving in the same direction on the same
track with 15 ms–1. The driver of train A applies brakes to produce a deceleration of 1.0 ms –2.
What should be the minimum distance between the trains to avoid the accident?

Section (B) : Relative motion in two dimensions

B-1. A particle A moves with a velocity 4 î and another particle B moves with a velocity – 3 ĵ . Find VAB , VBA
and their magnitude.
B-2. A ship is steaming due east at 12 ms–1. A woman runs across the deck at 5 ms –1 (relative to ship) in a
direction towards north. Calculate the velocity of the woman relative to sea.
B-3. Two perpendicular rail tracks have two trains A & B respectively. Train A moves towards north with a
speed of 54 km h–1 and train B moves towards west with a speed of 72 km h–1. Assume that both trains
start from same point. Calculate the
(a) Relative velocity of ground with respect to B
(b) Relative velocity of A with respect to B.
B-4. A man is swimming in a lake in a direction of 30° East of North with a speed of 5 km/h and a cyclist is
going on a road along the lake shore towards East at a speed of 10 km/h. In what direction and with
what speed would the man appear to swim to the cyclist.

B-5. A ship is sailing towards north at a speed of 2 m/s. The current is taking it towards East at the rate of
1 m/s and a sailor is climbing a vertical pole on the ship at the rate of 1 m/s. Find the velocity of the
sailor with respect to ground.

Section (C) : Relative motion in river flow & Air flow

C-1. A swimmer’s speed in the direction of flow of river is 16 km h –1. Swimmer's speed against the direction
of flow of river is 8 km h–1. Calculate the swimmer’s speed in still water and the velocity of flow of the
river.
C-2. A man can swim with a speed of 4 km h–1 in still water. How long does he take to cross a river 1 km
wide if the river flows steadily at 3 km h–1 and he makes his strokes normal to the river current? How far
down the river does he go when he reaches the other bank?
C-3. A river is flowing from west to east at a speed of 5 m/min. A man on the south bank of the river, capable
of swimming at 10 m/min in still water, swims across the shortest path distance. In what direction
should he swim?

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Relative Motion
Section (D) : Relative motion in Rain and wind
D-1. A pipe which can rotate in a vertical plane is mounted on a cart. The cart moves uniformly along a
horizontal path with a speed v1 = 2 m/s. At what angle  to the horizontal should the pipe be placed
so that drops of rain falling vertically with a velocity v2 = 6m/s move parallel to the axis of the pipe
without touching its walls? Consider the velocity of the drops as constant due to the resistance of the
air.

D-2. Rain seems to be falling vertically to a person sitting in a bus which is moving uniformly eastwards with
10 m/s. It appears to come from vertical at a velocity 20 m/s. Find the speed of rain drops with respect
to ground.

D-3. To a man walking at the rate of 2 km/hour with respect to ground, the rain appears to fall vertically.
When he increases his speed to 4 km/hour in same direction of his motion, rain appears to meet him at
an angle of 45º with horizontal, find the real direction and speed of the rain.

Section (E) : Velocity of separation & approach

E-1. A particle is kept at rest at origin. Another particle starts from (5m, 0) with a velocity of – 4 î + 3 ĵ m/s.
Find their closest distance of approach.

E-2. Four particles situated at the corners of a square of side ‘a’, move at a constant speed v. Each particle
maintains a direction towards the next particle in succession. Calculate the time the particles will take to
meet each other.

PART - II : ONLY ONE OPTION CORRECT TYPE

Section (A) : Relative motion in one dimension
A-1. An aeroplane is flying vertically upwards with a uniform speed of 500 m/s. When it is at a height of
1000 m above the ground a shot is fired at it with a speed of 700 m/s from a point directly below it. The
minimum uniform acceleration of the aeroplane now so that it may escape from being hit ? (g = 10 m/s2)
(A) 10 m/s2 (B) 8 m/s2 (C) 12 m/s2 (D) None of these

A-2. A stone is thrown upwards from a tower with a velocity 50 ms–1. Another stone is simultaneously thrown
downwards from the same location with a velocity 50 ms –1. When the first stone is at the highest point,
the relative velocity of the second stone with respect to the first stone is (assume that second stone has
not yet reached the ground) :
(A) Zero (B) 50 ms–1 (C) 100 ms–1 (D) 150 ms–1

A-3. Shown in the figure are the position time graph for two children going home from the school. Which of
the following statements about their relative motion is true after both of them started moving?
Their relative velocity: (consider 1-D motion)

(A) first increases and then decreases (B) first decreases and then increases
(C) is zero (D) is non zero constant.
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Relative Motion
A-4. Shown in the figure are the velocity time graphs of the two particles P 1 and P2. Which of the following
statements about their relative motion is true? Magnitude of their relative velocity: (consider 1-D motion)

(A) is zero (B) is non-zero but constant

(C) continuously decreases (D) continuously increases

A-5. Two trains A and B which are 100 km apart are travelling towards each other on different tracks with
each having initial speed of 50 km/h. The train A accelerates at 20 km/h2 and the train B retards at the
rate 20 km/h2. The distance covered by the train A when they cross each other is :
(A) 45 km (B) 55 km (C) 65 km (D) 60 km

A-6. A jet airplane travelling from east to west at a speed of 500 km h –1 eject out gases of combustion at a
speed of 1500 km h–1 with respect to the jet plane. What is the velocity of the gases with respect to an
observer on the ground?
(A) 1000 km h–1 in the direction west to east (B) 1000 km h–1 in the direction east to west
–1
(C) 2000 km h in the direction west to east (D) 2000 km h–1 in the direction east to west

Section (B) : Relative motion in two dimension

B-1. A helicopter is flying south with a speed of 50 kmh –1. A train is moving with the same speed towards
east. The relative velocity of the helicopter as seen by the passengers in the train will be towards.
(A) north east (B) south east (C) north west (D) south west

B-2. Two particles are moving with velocities v1 and v2. Their relative velocity is the maximum, when the
angle between their velocities is :
(A) zero (B) /4 (C) /2 (D) 

B-3. A ship is travelling due east at 10 km/h. A ship heading 30° east of north is always due north from the
first ship. The speed of the second ship in km/h is -
(A) 20 2 (B) 20 (C) 20 3 / 2 (D) 20/ 2

Section (C) : Relative motion in river flow

C-1. A boat, which has a speed of 5 km/h in still water, crosses a river of width 1 km along the shortest
possible path in 15 minutes. The velocity of the river water in km/h is -
(A) 1 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 41
C-2. A boat is rowed across a river (perpendicular to river flow) at the rate of 9 km/hr. The river flows at the
rate of 12 km/hr. The velocity of boat in km/hr is:
(A) 14 (B) 15 (C) 16 (D) 17

C-3. A boat which can move with a speed of 5 m/s relative to water crosses a river of width 480 m flowing
with a constant speed of 4 m/s. What is the time taken by the boat to cross the river along the shortest
path.
(A) 80 s (B) 160 s (C) 240 s (D) 320 s

C-4. An airplane pilot sets a compass course due west and maintains an air speed of 240 km/h. After flying
1
for h, he finds himself over a town that is 150 km west and 40 km south of his starting point. The wind
2
velocity (with respect to ground) is :
(A) 100 km/h, 37° W of S (B) 100 km/h, 37° S of W
(C) 120 km/h, 37° W of S (D) 120 km/h, 37° S of W
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 Relative Motion
Section (D) : Relative motion in Rain and wind
D-1. It is raining vertically downwards with a velocity of 3 km h –1. A man walks in the rain with a velocity of
4 kmh–1. The rain drops will fall on the man with a relative velocity of :
(A) 1 kmh–1 (B) 3 kmh–1 (C) 4 kmh–1 (D) 5 kmh–1
D-2. A man walks in rain with a velocity of 5 kmh–1. The rain drops strike at him at an angle of 45° with the
horizontal. The velocity of the rain if it is falling vertically downward is :
(A) 5 kmh–1 (B) 4 kmh–1 (C) 3 kmh–1 (D) 1 kmh–1
D-3. Raindrops are falling vertically with a velocity of 10 m/s. To a cyclist moving on a straight road the
raindrops appear to be coming with a velocity of 20 m/s. The velocity of cyclist is :
(A) 10 m/s (B) 10 3 m/s (C) 20 m/s (D) 20 3 m/s

D-4. An aeroplane has to go along straight line from A to B, and back again. The relative speed with respect
to wind is V. The wind blows perpendicular to line AB with speed . The distance between A and B is .
The total time for the round trip is:
2 2 2V 2
(A) (B) 2 (C) (D)
V 
2 2 V  2 V 2  2 V  2
2

Section (E) : Velocity of separation & approach

E-1. For two particles A and B, given that rA = 2 î + 3 ĵ , rB = 6 î + 7 ĵ , v A = 3 î – ĵ and vB = x î – 5 ĵ . What is
the value of x if they collide?
(A) 1 (B) – 1 (C) 2 (D) –2
E-2#. Two particles A and B move with velocities v1 and v2 respectively along the x & y axis. The initial
separation between them is ‘d’ as shown in the figure. Find the least distance between them during
their motion.

d.v12 d.v 22 d.v1 d.v 2

(A) (B) (C) (D)
v  v 22
2
1 v  v 22
2
1 v v
2 2
v12  v 22
1 2

PART - III : MATCH THE COLUMN

1. Match the following:
A ball is thrown vertically upward in the air by a passenger (relative to himself) from a train that is
moving as given in column I (vball << vescape). Correctly match the situation as described in the column I,
with the paths given in column II.
Column-  Column-II
(A) Train moving with constant acceleration on a slope then (p) Straight line
path of the ball as seen by the passenger.
(B) Train moving with constant acceleration on a slope then (q) Parabolic
path of the ball as seen by a stationary observer outside.
(C) Train moving with constant acceleration on horizontal ground (r) Elliptical
then path of the ball as seen by the passenger.
(D) Train moving with constant acceleration on horizontal ground (s) Hyperbolic
then path of the ball as seen by a stationary observer outside. (t) Circular

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Relative Motion
2. Both A & B are thrown simultaneously as shown from a very high tower.
Column-I Column-II
10m/s
B
A

(A) 10m/s (p) Distance between the two balls at two seconds
is 16 5 m.

10m/s

5m/s

(B) (q) distance between two balls at 2 seconds is

40 m.

10m/s
B
A 37°
10m/s
(C) (r) distance between two balls at 2 sec is 10 5 m.

10m/s
37° B
A 37°
10m/s
(D) (s) Magnitude of relative velocity of B w.r.t A is
5 2 m/s.

(t) magnitude of relative velocity of B with respect

to A is 5 5 m/s.

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Relative Motion

 Marked Questions can be used as Revision Questions.

PART - I : ONLY ONE OPTION CORRECT TYPE
1. Two cars are moving in the same direction with a speed of 30 km h –1. They are separated from each
other by 5 km. Third car moving in the opposite direction meets the two cars after an interval of
4 minutes. What is the speed of the third car ?
(A) 35 km h–1 (B) 40 km h–1 (C) 45 km h–1 (D) 75 km h–1
2. A bus is moving with a velocity 10 ms–1 on a straight road. A scooterist wishes to overtake the bus in
100s. If, the bus is at a distance of 1 km from the scooterist, with what velocity should the scooterist
chase the bus? (Neglect size of the bus)
(A) 50 ms–1 (B) 40 ms–1 (C) 30 ms–1 (D) 20 ms–1
3. A coin is released inside a lift at a height of 2 m from the floor of the lift. The height of the lift is
10 m. The lift is moving with an acceleration of 11 m/s 2 downwards. The time after which the coin will
strike with the lift is :
4 2
(A) 4 s (B) 2 s (C) s (D) s
21 11
4. A police van moving on a highway with a speed of 30 km h–1 fires a bullet at a thief’s car speeding away
in the same direction with a speed of 192 km h–1. If the muzzle speed of the bullet is 150 ms –1, with
what speed does the bullet hit the thief’s car (as, seen by thief). According to thief in the car ?
(A) 105 m/s (B) 100 m/s (C) 110 m/s (D) 90 m/s
5. A flag on a bus is fluttering in north direction & wind is blowing in east direction. Then which of the
following will be true -
(A) bus is moving in south direction.
(B) bus is moving in north east direction.
(C) bus may be moving in any direction between south & east.
(D) bus may be moving in any direction between south & west.

6. For four particles A, B, C & D the velocities of one with respect to other are given as VDC is 20 m/s
  
towards north, VBC is 20 m/s towards east and VBA is 20 m/s towards south. Then VDA is
(A) 20 m/s towards north (B) 20 m/s towards south
(C) 20 m/s towards east (D) 20 m/s towards west

7. Two persons P and Q start from points A and B respectively as shown in figure. P and Q have speed
v = 12 m/s in shown directions towards point O. when the distance between P and Q is 120m, then Q
increases its speed to 15 m/s. Then find out who will reach the point O first.

(A) P (B) Q
(C) both P and Q reaches simultaneously (D) Data is insufficient

8. A man crosses the river perpendicular to river flow in time t seconds and travels an equal distance
down the stream in T seconds. The ratio of man's speed in still water to the speed of river water will be :
t2  T2 T2  t2 t2  T2 T2  t2
(A) (B) (C) (D)
t2  T2 T2  t2 t2  T2 T2  t2

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Relative Motion
9. Two aeroplanes fly from their respective positions 'A' and 'B' starting at
the same time and reach the point 'C' simultaneously when wind was
not blowing. On a windy day they head towards 'C' but both reach the
point 'D' simultaneously in the same time which they took to reach 'C'.
Then the wind is blowing in
(A) North-East direction
(B) North-West direction
(C) Direction making an angle 0 <  < 90 with North towards East.
(D) North direction
10. A man who is wearing a hat of extended length of 12 cm is running in rain falling vertically downwards
with speed 10 m/s. The maximum speed with which man can run, so that rain drops do not fall on his
face (the length of his face below the extended part of the hat is 16 cm) will be:
15 40
(A) m/s (B) m/s (C) 10 m/s (D) zero
2 3
11. A man is going up in a lift (open at the top) moving with a constant velocity 3 m/s. He throws a ball up at
5 m/sec relative to the lift when the lift is 50 m above the ground. Height of the lift when the ball meets it
during its downward journey is (g = 10 m/s2) [Olympiad (Stage-1) 2017]
(A) 53 m (B) 58 m (C) 63 m (D) 68 m

PART - II : SINGLE AND DOUBLE VALUE INTEGER TYPE

1. Men are running along a road at 15 km/h behind one another at equal intervals of 20 m. Cyclists are
riding in the same direction at 25 km/h at equal intervals of 30 m. At what speed (in km/h) an observer
travel along the road in opposite direction so that whenever he meets a runner he also meets a cyclist?
(Neglect the size of cycle)

2. Two identical trains take 3 sec to pass one another when going in the opposite direction but only
2.5 sec if the speed of one is increased by 50%. Find the time (in sec) one would take to pass the other
when going in the same direction at their original speed.
3. Three elephants A, B and C are moving along a straight line
with constant speed in same direction as shown in figure.
Speed of A is 5 m/s and speed of C is 10 m/s. Initially
separation between A & B is ‘d’ and between B & C is also d.
When ‘B’ catches ‘C’ separation between A & C becomes 3d.
Find the speed of B (in m/s).
4. A man standing on a truck which moves with a constant horizontal acceleration a (= 10 m/s 2) when
speed of the truck is 10 m/s. The man throws a ball with velocity 5 2 m/s with respect to truck. In the
direction shown in the diagram. Find the displacement of ball in meters in one second as observed by
the man. (g = 10 m/s2)

5. A swimmer crosses the river along the line making an angle of 45º with the direction of flow. Velocity of
the river water is 5 m/s. Swimmer takes 6 seconds to cross the river of width 60 m. If the velocity of the
swimmer with respect to water is 5 n m/s, then find n.

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Relative Motion
6. An aeroplane has to go from a point A to another point B, 1000 km away due 30º west of north. A wind
is blowing due north at a speed of 20 m/s. The air-speed of the plane is 150 m/s. If the angle at which
the pilot should head the plane to reach the point B is sin–1(1/n) west of the line AB, Then find n.
7. Rain appears to be falling at an angle of 37° with vertical to the driver of a car moving with a velocity of
7 m/sec. When he increases the velocity of the car to 25 m/sec, the rain again appears to fall at an
angle 37° with vertical. If the actual velocity of rain relative to ground is 4n m/s then find n.
8. During a rainy day, rain is falling vertically with a velocity 2m/s. A boy at rest starts his motion with a
constant acceleration of 2m/s2 along a straight road. If the rate at which the angle of the axis of
umbrella with vertical should be changed is 1/n at t = 5s so that the rain falls parallel to the axis of the
umbrella, then find n.
9. Two men P & Q are standing at corners A & B of square ABCD of side 8 m. They start moving along
the track with constant speed 2 m/s and 10 m/s respectively. Find the time (in seconds) when they will
meet for the first time.

10. Two straight tracks AOB and COD meet each other at right angles at point O. A person walking at a
speed of 5 km/h along AOB is at the crossing O at 12 o'clock noon. Another person walking at the
same speed along COD reaches the crossing O at 1:30 PM. If the time at which the distance between
them is least is 12 : T PM, then find T.
11. P is a point moving with constant speed 10 m/s such that its velocity vector always maintains an angle
60° with line OP as shown in figure (O is a fixed point in space). The initial distance between O and P is
100 m. After what time (in sec) shall P reach O.

PART - III : ONE OR MORE THAN ONE OPTIONS CORRECT TYPE

1. A man standing on the edge of the terrace of a high rise building throws a stone vertically up with a
speed of 20 m/s. Two seconds later an identical stone is thrown vertically downwards with the same
speed of 20 m/s. Then :
(A) the relative velocity between the two stones remain constant till one hits the ground
(B) both will have the same kinetic energy when they hit the ground
(C) the time interval between their hitting the ground is 2 seconds
(D) if the collisions on the ground are perfectly elastic both will rise to the same height above the
ground.

2. A man in a lift which is ascending with an upward acceleration 'a' throws a ball vertically upwards with a
velocity ‘v’ with respect to himself and catches it after ‘t 1’ seconds. Afterwards when the lift is
descending with the same acceleration 'a' acting downwards the man again throws the ball vertically
upwards with the same velocity with respect to him and catches it after ‘t 2’ seconds
(A) the acceleration of the ball with respect to ground is g when it is in air
g (t1  t 2 )
(B) the velocity v of the ball relative to the lift is
t1 t 2
g (t 2  t1 )
(C) the acceleration 'a' of the lift is
t1  t 2
g t1 t 2
(D) the velocity ‘v’ of the ball relative to the man is
(t1  t 2 )
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Relative Motion

3. At an instant particle-A is at origin and moving with constant velocity (3iˆ  4ˆj) m / s and particle-B is at
(4, 4)m and moving with constant velocity (4iˆ  3ˆj) m / s . Then :
(A) at this instant relative velocity of B w.r.t. A is (iˆ  7ˆj) m / s
(B) at this instant approach velocity of A and B is 3 2 m/s
(C) relative velocity of B w.r.t. A remains constant
(D) approach velocity of A and B remains constant
4. A person is standing on a truck moving with a constant velocity of 15 m/s on a horizontal road. The man
throws a ball in such a way that it returns to his hand after the truck has moved 60 m. (g = 10 m/s 2)
(A) The speed of the ball as seen from the truck is 20 m/s
(B) The direction of initial velocity of ball is upward as seen from the truck
(C) The initial speed of the ball as seen from the ground is 25 m/s
(D) None of these
5. Two boats A and B having same speed relative to river are moving in a river. Boat A moves normal to
the river current as observed by an observer moving with velocity of river current. Boat B moves normal
to the river as observed by the observer on the ground. Choose the incorrect options.
(A) To a ground observer boat B moves faster than A
(B) To a ground observer boat A moves faster than B
(C) To the given moving observer boat B moves faster than A
(D) To the given moving observer boat A moves faster than B
6. An open elevator is ascending with zero acceleration and speed 10 m/s. A ball is thrown vertically up by
a boy (boy is in elevator) when he is at a height 10 m from the ground, the velocity of projection is
30m/s with respect to elevator. Choose correct option(s) assuming height of the boy very small :
(g = 10 m/s2)
(A) Maximum height attained by the ball from ground is 90 m.
(B) Maximum height attained by the ball with respect to lift from the point of projection is 45 m.
(C) Time taken by the ball to meet the elevator again is 6 sec
(D) The speed of the ball when it comes back to the boy is 20 m/s with respect to ground.

PART - IV : COMPREHENSION
Comprehension # 1
The driver of a car travelling at a speed of 20 m/s, wishes to overtake a truck that is moving with a
constant speed of 20 m s–1 in the same lane. The car’s maximum acceleration is 0.5 m s –2. Initially the
vehicles are separated by 40 m, and the car returns back into its lane after it is 40 m ahead of the truck.
The car is 3 m long and the truck 17m long.
1. Find the minimum time required for the car to pass the truck and return back to its lane?
(A) 10 second (B) 20 second, (C) 15 second (D) none of these.
2. What distance does the car travel during this time?
(A) 500 m (B) 600 m (C) 200 m (D) 300 m
3. What is the final speed of the car ?
(A) 40 m/s (B) 20 m/s (C) 45 m/s (D) 30 m/s
Comprehension # 2
Two particles 'A' and 'B' are projected in the vertical plane with same initial speed u 0 from position (0, 0)
and (, – h) towards each other as shown in figure at t = 0.
y
u0
2
‘A’  g=10 m/s
x
(0,0)
u0 h

‘B’
( 1- h)
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Relative Motion
4. The path of particle 'A' with respect to particle 'B' will be
(A) parabola (B) straight line parallel to x-axis.
(C) straight line parallel to y-axis (D) none of these.

5. Minimum distance between particle A and B during motion will be :

(A)  (B) h (C) 2
 b2 (D)  + h

6. The time when separation between A and B is minimum is :

x 2h 2
(A) (B) (C) (D)
u0 cos  g 2u0 cos  u0 cos 

Comprehension # 3
Raindrops are falling with a velocity 10 2 m/s making an angle of 45° with the vertical. The drops
appear to be falling vertically to a man running with constant velocity. The velocity of rain drops change
such that the rain drops now appear to be falling vertically with 3 times the velocity it appeared earlier
to the same person running with same velocity.
7. The magnitude of velocity of man with respect to ground is
(A) 10 2 m/s (B) 5 m/s (C) 20 m/s (D) 10 m/s

8. After the velocity of rain drops change, the magnitude of velocity of raindrops with respect to ground is
(A) 20 m/s (B) 25 m/s (C) 10 m/s (D) 15 m/s

9. The angle (in degrees) between the initial and the final velocity vectors of the raindrops with respect to
the ground is
(A) 8 (B) 15 (C) 22.5 (D) 37

 Marked Questions can be used as Revision Questions.

* Marked Questions may have more than one correct option.
PART - I : JEE (ADVANCED) / IIT-JEE PROBLEMS (PREVIOUS YEARS)
1. Airplanes A and B are flying with constant velocity in the same vertical plane at angles 30° and 60° with
respect to the horizontal respectively as shown in figure. The speed of A is 100 3 ms–1. At time t = 0s,
an observer in A finds B at a distance of 500m. This observer sees B moving with a constant velocity
perpendicular to the line of motion of A. If at t = t0, A just escapes being hit by B, t0 in seconds is:
[JEE (Advanced) 2014; P-1, 3/60]

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Relative Motion

PART - II : JEE (MAIN) / AIEEE PROBLEMS (PREVIOUS YEARS)

1. Two stones are thrown up simultaneously from the edge of a cliff 240 m high with initial speed of 10 m/s
and 40 m/s respectively. Which of the following graph best represents the time variation of relative
position of the second stone with respect to the first ? (Assume stones do not rebound after hitting the
ground and neglect air resistance, take g = 10 m/s 2) (The figures are schematic and not drawn to
scale.) [JEE (Main) 2015; 4/120, –1]

(1) (2)

(3) (4)


2. Ship A is sailing towards north-east with velocity v  30î  50 ĵ km/hr where î points east and ĵ points
north. Ship B is at a distance of 80 km east and 150 km north of ship A and is sailing towards west at
10 km/hr. A will be at minimum distance from B in. [JEE (Main) 2019; 4/120, –1]
(1) 4.2 hrs. (2) 2.6 hrs. (3) 3.2 hrs. (4) 2.2 hrs.

3. A particle is moving along the x-axis with its coordinate with time t given by x(t) = 10 + 8t – 3t2. Another
particle is moving along the y-axis with its coordinate as a function of time given by y(t) = 5 – 8t3.
At t = 1s, the speed of the second particle as measured in the frame of the first particle is given as v.
Then v (in m/s) is. [JEE (Main) 2020, 08 January; 4/100, –1]

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Relative Motion

EXERCISE-1 EXERCISE-2
PART - I PART - I
Section (A) : 1. (C) 2. (D) 3. (A)
A-1. (a) 144 km/h due south 4. (A) 5. (C) 6. (D)
7. (A) 8. (C) 9. (B)
(b) 90 km/h due north
(c) 36 km/h due north 10. (A) 11. (A)
(d) 126 km/h due north
A-2. 50 km/h A-3. 20 sec. PART – II
A-4. 50 m 1. 5 2. 15 3. 15
4. 0 5. 5 6. 15
Section (B) : 7. 5 8. 26 9. 3
B-1. 4 î + 3 ĵ , – 4 î – 3 ĵ , 5 unit, 5 unit. 10. 45 11. 20

 5 
PART - III
B-2. 13 m/s, tan–1   = 22°37 north of east 1. (ABCD) 2. (ACD) 3. (ABC)
 12 
4. (ABC) 5. (ACD) 6. (ABCD)
B-3. (a) 20 m/s or 72 km/h due east
(b) 25 m/s or 90 km/h at 37°N of E
PART - IV
1. (B) 2. (A) 3. (D)
B-4. 30º N of W at 5 3 km/h. 4. (B) 5. (B) 6. (C)
B-5. ˆi  2 ˆj  kˆ , î  east, ĵ  north, 7. (D) 8. (A) 9. (B)

k̂  vertical upward
EXERCISE-3
Section (C) :
PART - I
1 3 1. 5
C-1. 12 km/h, 4km/h C-2. h, km
4 4
C-3. At an angle 30° west of north
PART - II
1. (3) 2. (2) 3. 580
Section (D) :
D-1.  = tan–1 3 D-2. 10 5 m/s
D-3. 2 2 m/s, 45º with vertical and away from the
man.
Section (E) :
E-1. 3m E-2. a/v
PART - II
Section (A) :
A-1. (A) A-2. (C) A-3. (D)
A-4. (D) A-5. (D) A-6. (A)
Section (B) :
B-1. (D) B-2. (D) B-3. (B)
Section (C) :
C-1. (B) C-2. (B) C-3. (B)
C-4. (A)
Section (D) :
D-1. (D) D-2. (A) D-3. (B)
D-4. (A)
Section (E) :
E-1. (B) E-2. (C)
PART - III
1. (A) – q ; (B) – q ; (C) – q ; (D) – q
2. (A) – q ; (B) – r, t ; (C) – p ; (D) – q
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Relative Motion
SOLUTIONS OF REALTIVE MOTION
EXERCISE # 1
PART - I
 
A-1. V A  15m / sec ˆj VB  25m / sec(– ˆj)

 
(a) VB – V A  –40ˆj i.e., 40 m/sec due south = 144 km/hr due south


(b) 0 – VB = 25 m/sec ĵ i.e., 25 m/sec due north = 90 km/hr due north


18  5 ˆ
(c) VM.G  15ˆj – j  10ˆj i.e., 10 m/sec due north. = 36 km/hr due north
18

(d) VM.B  10ˆj – ( 25)jˆ  35ˆj i.e., 35 m/sec due north. = 126 km/hr due north

A-2. d = r t where r is the relative velocity

3 0.075 km
 120 + 3v = 270 3v = 150 v = 50
60  60 40  v h

A-3. Relative velocity of A with respect to B

v AB  v A  vB = 10 – 5 = 5 m/s
So time taken by A to meet B is –
100 100
t= = = 20 sec.
v AB 5
A-4. vr = 25 – 15 = 10m/s and ar = –1m/s2 so by v 2 = u2 + 2as
100
S=  50m
2 1

B-1. v A  4iˆ , vB  3ˆj

v AB  v A  VB = 4 î – (–3 ĵ ) = 4 î + 3 ĵ
vBA  vB  VA = – 3 ĵ – 4 î
v AB = 42  32 = 5 unit

vBA  32  42 = 5 unit.

 
B-2. V  12iˆ  5ˆj | V | = 122  52 = 13 m/sec
5
tan  = north of east
12

B-3. (a) VG,B = 0 – 20 = – 20 m/sec i.e., due east

 
(b) VA = 15 m/sec VB = 20 m/sec | V A – VB |  202  152

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ADVRL - 1
Relative Motion
B-4.

 
VM – V C = 5 sin 30 î + 5 cos 30º ĵ – 10 î V = 5 3 ˆj – 7.5iˆ
MC
2
  25  3 225
Speed = | VM – V C |   = 5 3 km/hr Ans
4 4
5 3
1
tan  = 2  ; direction  = 30º North of west. Ans
7.5 3

B-5. Vship = 2 ˆj  1iˆ  1kˆ = ˆi  2 ˆj  kˆ

C-1. VS + Vr = 16 VS – Vr = 8
 VS = 12km/hr  Vr = 4 km/hr

d 1
C-2. (I) (a)  hr
mR 4
3
(b) Displacement along the river flow = rt = km
4
C-3. Given Vr = 5 m/min
Vmr = 10 m/min
 Vr
Vr


Vmr 
(

Vr 5 1
sin  = = =
Vmr 10 2
1
sin  =   = 30° (west of north)
2

D-1.

tan  = 6/2 = 3  = tan–1 3

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ADVRL - 2
Relative Motion
D-2. VRM = VR – VM
VR = VRb + Vb = 20 ĵ + 10 î
10 1
tan = =
20 2

|Vr | = (20)2  (10)2 = 10 5 m/s

Making angle tan–1 1/2 with vertical.

D-3. Vm  2 î

V r  x ˆi  y ˆj

r,m  (x – 2)iˆ  y ˆj  y ˆj
 x = 2 m/sec

v  4iˆ
'
m
  
'r, m  r  'm
= ( x – 4)iˆ  y ˆj = –2iˆ  y ˆj
tan 45º = y/2
y = 2

so r  2iˆ  2jˆ so tan  = 1   = 45º
r = 2 2 m/sec.

E-1. Relative velocity is shown

rmin = 5 sin37º = 3m.

E-2.

Approach velocity of A towards B = v

So, time taken = a/v.

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ADVRL - 3
Relative Motion
PART - II
A-1. Acceleration of shell with respect to plane = g + a (downward)
and speed = 700 – 500 = 200 (upward)
To just escape from being hit
u2  v rel
2
(200)2  (0)2
h > rel  1000 >
2(g  a) 2(g  a)
g + a > 20  a > 10 m/s 2

A-2. 1 = 50 – gT 2 = – 50 – gT vr = 1 – 2 = 100 m/sec

A-3. 1 = slope of C1 line = constant

2 = slope of C2 line = constant
1 – 2  0 but constant

A-4. Slope of  – t graph = acceleration

1 = a1 (t –t0) = tan 1t – tan 1t0

2 = a2 (t – t0) = tan 2t – tan 2 t0
r = 1 – 2 = (tan 1 – tan 2) t – t0 (tan 1 – tan 2)
So vr contineously increases.

A-5. Initial relative velocity

ur = 50 – (– 50) = 100
ar = 20 – (20) = 0
sr = rt + 1/2 art2
100 = 100 t t = 1 hr
sA = 50 (1) + 1/2 (20) (1)2 = 60 km.

A-6. W E

VA = – 500 î  VGA  VA = VGAS

VGA = 1500 î  1500 î – 500 î = 1000 î

B-1.


Vr  50(– ˆj) – 50iˆ = 50(–iˆ – ˆj)
i.e., in south west

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ADVRL - 4
Relative Motion
B-2. V12 = V1  V2
| V12 | = V12  V22  2V1V2 cos 
If cos  = – 1
| V12 |max = V12  V22  2V1V2
| V12 |max = (V1 + V2)
So | V12 | is maximum when cos  = – 1 and  = 
B-3.


V1  10iˆ
   3ˆ
V 2  v sin30iˆ  v cos30ˆj  ˆi  j
2 2
 
   3ˆ  3ˆ
V 2 – V1   – 10  ˆi  j j
2  2 2
 /2 – 10 = 0 or  = 20

C-1. 15 min = 1/4 hr.

d 1 1 1 1
t=  = = =
Vy 4 V2
MR V 2
R
4 5  VR2
2

 VR = 3 km/h
C-2. Vboat, river = 9 km/hr.
Vriver, ground = 12 km/hr.
Vboat, ground = (12iˆ  9ˆj) km/hr
Vboat, ground = 122  92 = 15 km/hr.

C-3. Vb = 52  42 = 3 m/s
480
t= = 160 s
3

C-4. Let velocity of wind be

(240 + v1) 1/2 = 150  v1 = 60
and v 2 × 1/2 = 40  v2 = 80
so v air = v12  v 22 = 100 km/hr
v1
tan  =  = 37º west of south
v2
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ADVRL - 5
Relative Motion
D-1.
V R
M

VR= 3km/h

VM= 4km/h
VRH = VR2  VM2 = 32  42 = 5 km/h Ans.

D-2. V r  y j

m  5iˆ
 
Vr  Vm  ( 5) î   y ĵ
tan  = 1 = y/5
so y = 5 km/hr

D-3. V r  10ˆj

V c   ˆi
 
Vr – V c  10ˆj – ˆi
 
| Vr – V c |  102  2 = 20
  10 3
D-4. For no drift :
Vsin
V V Vsin
 
A Vcos Vcos B

wind
V sin = 

sin =   t = tAB + tBA
V
2 2 2
t= =  t=
V cos  2
V  2
2
V 1
V2

rB  rA V  VA
E-1. A and B collide if =  B
| rB  rA | | VB  VA |
4iˆ  4ˆj (x – 3)iˆ – 4ˆj
= =±
4 2 | [(x – 3)2  42 ]1/ 2 |
By comparison
x–3=–4  x = –1.
ALTERNATE:
rAB = – 4 î – 4 ĵ
v AB = (3 – x) î + 4 ĵ
to collide angle between rAB & v AB should be  i.e.
–4 –4
= = –1  x=–1
3–x 4

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ADVRL - 6
Relative Motion
E-2.
Velocity of B w.r.t. A

rmin
v2
d

v1

tan = v1/v2
v1
rmin = d sin= d . .
v  v 22
2
1

PART - III
1. In all cases, angle between velocity and net force (in the frame of observer) is in between 0° and 180°
(excluding both values, in that path is straight line).

2. (A) VBA = 10 + 10 = 20
so distance b/w B and A in 2sec. = 2 × 20 = 40 m

(B)
VBA = 5iˆ – 10ˆj
 | VBA| = 25  100 = 5 5
Distance between A and B in 2 sec. = 10 5 m

(C) VBA :- so | VBA | = 8 5

so distance between A and B in 2 sec. = 2 × 8 5 = 16 5

(D) VBA : -

so | VBA | = 20
so distance between A and B in 2 sec. = 2 × 20 = 40 m.

EXERCISE # 2
PART - I
1. Relative velocity between either car (1st or 2nd) and 3rd car = u + 30
where u = velocity of 3rd car
Relative Displacement = 5 km
Time interval = 4 min.
5 5  60
 u + 30 = km/min = km/h = 75  u = 45 km/h
4 4

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ADVRL - 7
Relative Motion
Srel 1000
2. Vrel = = = 10 m/s.
t 100
 VS – VB = 10  VS = 10 + VB = 10 + 10 = 20 m/s. Ans.
3. Relative to lift initial velocity and acceleration of coin are 0 m/s and 1 m/s2 upwards

1
 8= (1) t2 or t = 4 second
2
4.

25 160
30 km/h = m/s, 192 km/hr = m/s
3 3
Muzzle speed = velocity of bullet w.r.t. revolver
= velocity of bullet w.r.t. van
150 = Vb – Vv
25 475
150 = Vb –  Vb = m/s w.r.t. ground
3 3
Now speed with which bullet hit thief's car
= velocity of bullet w.r.t car = Vbc = Vb – Vc
475 160 315
=  = = 105 m/s Ans.
3 3 3
5. Flag will flutter in the direction of wind with respect to bus.

and V WB = V W – V B = V W + (– V B ) (Addition of two vector always lies between them)

(– V B ) must lie in any direction between north & west. So bus will be moving in any direction between
south east. (C)

6. Let ˆi and ˆj be unit vectors in direction of east and north respectively.

ˆ
 VDC  20ˆj , VBC  20i and VBA  20ˆj
ˆ
 VDA  VDC  VCB  VBA = 20ˆj  20iˆ  20ˆj = 20i
 VDA  20iˆ

7. Position of P and Q when they are at distance 120 m at time t after motion start

Velocity of Q along y-direction is initially 12cos37º.

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ADVRL - 8
Relative Motion
Later on it increases it to 15cos37º = 12 m/s
Earlier Q was travelling with less velocity along y direction. So, it will reach point O later.
So P reaches first at point O

8. Let v = man’s speed in still water and

u = speed of river water

d d2
  t=  v2 – u2 =
v 2  u2 t2
d d2 (v  u)2 t2
 T=  (v + u)2 =  =  2 
v u T2 v u
2 2
T
v u t2
  = 2
v u T

(v  u)  (v  u) t 2  T 2 v t2  T2
 =  =
(v  u)  (v  u) t 2  T 2 u t2  T2

9. In absence of wind A reaches to C and in presence of wind it reaches to D in same time so wind must
deflect from C to D so wind blow in the direction of CD

VAG  VAW  VWG  VAG t  VAW t  VWG t

AC = VAW t
CD = VWG t

10. VR/G(x) = 0, VR/G(y) = 10 m/s

Let, velocity of man = v
12 cm

16 cm

16 4
tan  = =
12 3
Then, vR/man = v (opposite to man)
For the required condition :
VR / M( y ) 10 4 10  3
tan  = = =  V= = 7.5 Ans.
VR / M( x ) v 3 4

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ADVRL - 9
Relative Motion
2(5)
11. T  1sec
10
h = 50 + 3(1) = 53m

PART - II
1. Let u = speed of observer.
Relative velocity between observer and a man = u + 15 km/h.
Relative velocity between observer and a cyclist = u + 25 km/h.

Hence, to for a man and a cyclist to meet simultaneously

20m 30m
=  u = 5 km/h
(u  15)km / h (u  25) km / h

2.

2L 2L
t1 = 3 =  v1 + v2 = ...........(i)
v1  v 2 3
2L 4L
t2 = 2.5 = 1.5 v1 + v2 = ...........(ii)
1.5v1  v 2 5
by (i) and (ii)
4L 2L
v1 = ; v2 =
15 5
2L 2L
Now, t3 = = = 15 sec.
| v1  v 2 | 2L /15

d
3. B catches C in time t then t =
u  10
Seperation by this time has increased by 'd' between A and C hence
d
(10 – 5) × =d
(u  10)
u = 15 m/s

4.

w.r.t. man
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ADVRL - 10
Relative Motion
5. Vm,g = Vm,r + Vr,g
As resulting velocity Vm,g is at 45° with river flow

i.e. Vr,g – Vm, r sin  = Vm,g cos45° ...........(1)

60m
and = 6 sec. ...........(2)
Vmr cos 
Solving (1) & (2)
Vm, r = 5 5 m/s

6.

Velocity of plane w.r.t ground is along AB so perpendicular component (to line AB) of velocity is zero.
v sin = 20 sin30°
v sin = 20 sin30°
10 1
sin = =
150 15
 1
 = sin–1  
 15 

7. Let v = actual velocity of rain and  = its angle with vertical :

In fig. (A)
v sin = 7 + v cos. tan 37° = 7 + 3/4 v cos
  4 v sin – 3 v cos= 28 ..............(1)
In fig. (B)
25 = v sin + v cos. tan 37° = v sin + 3/4 v cos
 4 v sin + 3 v cos= 100 ..............(2)
Solving (1) and (2)
v = 20m/s and = 53°

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ADVRL - 11
Relative Motion
8. At any time t, rain will appear to the boy as shown in picture.
tan = at/v

v rb = velocity of rain w.r.t. boy

Boy should hold his umbrella at an angle  from the vertical
at d a
 tan = sec2 =
v dt v
d a a a av 2 2 1
 = = = = 2 = =
dt v sec 
2
v[1  tan  ]
2
 a t  v a t
2 2 2 2
4  4t 2
1  t2
v 1  2 
 v 
d 1 d 1
= Ans. =
dt 1  t 2 dt 1  t2

9.

a = side of square = 8m
They meet when Q displace 8 × 3 m more than P
 Relative displacement = Relative velocity × time.
8 × 3 = (10 – 2) t  t = 3 sec Ans. 3 sec

3 15
10. The positions of the persons at 12:00 PM will be as shown in figure. Such that OC = 5 × km = km
2 2
Velocity of man at C with respect to man at O will be along CE such that tan = 5/5 = 1 
   = 45°
15
 Least distance = OE = OC sin 45° = km Ans.
2 2

CE 15 3
Time taken = = = hr.
5 2 2 2 5 2 4
So, the person will be closest at 12:45 PM Ans.

11.
dx
Velocity of approach of P and O is  = v cos 60° = 5 m/s
dt
It can be seen that velocity of approach is always constant.
100
 P reaches O after = = 20 sec.
5
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ADVRL - 12
Relative Motion
PART - III
1. Relative Intial velocities
ur = 20 – (0) = 20 m/s
Relative acceleration
ar = 0
Relative velocity between them after time
vr = ur + ar .t
= 20m/s
= constant 
  (A) is correct 
  Since they are thrown from same height
 Speed is same after reaching ground
 Same KE when they hit the ground
 (B) is correct
The time taken by the first stone to come to same height from where it was thrown.
2u 2  20
=
g 10
 Time interval between two stone when both are at A and going downwards = 4 – 2 = 2s.
Since, relative velocity is Constant between them. So time interval between their hitting the
ground = 2 s.
 (C) is correct
Option (D) is obvious from conservation of energy.

2. For first case (when lift is ascending with an acceleration a)

2v
t1 = ...........(i)
ga
for second case (when lift is descending with an acceleration a )
2v
t2 = ...........(ii)
ga
on solving equation (i) and (ii) we get
gt t t t 
V= 12 & a=g  2 1
t1  t 2  t1  t 2 

3.

vBA = vB – v A
= [4iˆ  3ˆj]  [3iˆ  4ˆj] = ˆi  7ˆj
vapp = 4 cos45º + 3 cos45º + 3 cos45º – 4 cos45º
= 6 cos45º
= 3 2 m/s

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ADVRL - 13
Relative Motion
4. uT = 15 m/s (velocity of truck)

Range = 60 m
Range = distance travelled by truck uT × T
60 = 15 × T  T = 4s = Time of flight (of ball)
2uy
T= where uy = Vertical component of ball's vel. {wrt ground}
g
Tg 4  10
 = uy i.e, uy = = 20 m/s
2 2
Now vel. of truck = ux = horizontal component of ball's vel. (wrt ground)
 ux = 15 m/s (wrt ground)
This is because both cover same horizontal distance in same time with constant velocity along
horizontal.
Now, velocity, of vall wrt track = VBT Then VBTx = VBx – VTx
i.e., velocity ball wrt truck (along x axis) = velocity of ball (wrt earth, along x axis) – velocity of truck
(along x axis)
 VBT x = 15 – 15 = 0
Similarly, VBT y = VBy – VTy = 20 – 0
VBTy = 20 m/s.
  
 V BT = V BTx + V BTy = 0 + 20 m/s ĵ
 velocity of ball wrt truck = 20 m/s upwards
   
velocity of ball, V = V x + V y V = 15 î + 20 ĵ

tan = 4/3  = 53º


 Speed = | V | = 15  202 = 5 32  42 = 25 m/s
2

i.e., vel. of ball (wrt ground) = 25 m/s at an angle of 53º with the horizontal (as shown)

5. Speed of river is u and speed of boat relative to water is v.

Speed of boat A observed from ground = u2  v 2

Speed of boat B observed from ground = v 2  u2
From river frame, speed of boat A and B will be same.

6. (A) Absolute velocity of ball = 40 m/s (upwards)

(40)2
hmax = hi = f f = 10 +
2  10
h = 90 m
(30)2
(B) Maximum height from lift = = 45 m
2  10
(C) The ball unless meet the elevator again when displacement of ball = displacement of lift
40 t – 1/2 × 10 × t2 = 10 × t  t = 6s.
(D) with respect to elevator Vball = 30 m/s downward  Vball with respect to ground = 30 – 10 = 20 m/s
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ADVRL - 14
Relative Motion
PART - IV
1. Displacement of car relative to truck
xr = 40 + 17 + 3 + 40 = 100 m.

Initilly
Relative initial velocity between car and truck
ur = 20 – 20 = 0

Finally
Relative acceleration between car and truck
ar = 0.5 – 0 = 0.5 m/s2
Let required time = t .
 II equation of motion
xr = ur .t + 1/2 ar.t2
 100 = 0 + 1/2 × 0.5 × t2
 t = 20 sec.

2. Distance travelled by car

xc = ut +1/2 at2
= 20 × 20 + 1/2 × 0.5 × 202 = 500m
3. Final speed of the car
= u + at
= 20 + 0.5 × 20 = 30m/s.

4 & 5. The path of a projectile as observed by other projectile is a straight line.

VA = u cos î + (usin – gt) ĵ . VAB = (2u cos) î
VB = – u cos î + (u sin– gt) ĵ .
aBA = g – g = 0
U0sin

U0cos

U0 U0sin
U0cos 
VBA
U0cos B
U0sin
The vertical component u0 sin will get cancelled. The relative velocity will only be horizontal which is
equal to 2u0 cos.
Hence, B will travel horizontally towards left with respect to A with constant speed 2u0 cos and
minimum distance will be h.
S
6. Time to attain this separation will be rel  .
Vrel 2u0 cos 

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ADVRL - 15
Relative Motion
7 to 9. In the first case :
From the figure it is clear that
VRM is 10 m/s downwards and
VM is 10 m/s towards right.
VM

45° 10 2 m/s

VRM VR

VM
In the second case :
Velocity of rain as observed by man becomes times in magnitude.
 New velocity of rain
VR'  VR'M  VM
10
 The angle rain makes with vertical is tan  =
10 3
or  = 30°
 Change in angle of rain = 45 – 30 = 15°.

EXERCISE # 3
PART - I
1.

For relative motion perpendicular to line of motion of A

VA = 100 3 = VB Cos 30º
 VB = 100 m/s
50 500
t0 =   5sec Ans.
VB sin30º 1
200 
2

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ADVRL - 16
Relative Motion
PART - II
1.

–240 = 10 t – 1/2 × 10t2

5t2 – 10t – 240 = 0
t2 – 2t – 48 = 0
t2 – 8t + 6t – 48 = 0
t = 8, –6
The first particle will strike ground at 8 seconds upto 8 second, relative velocity is 30 m/s and relative
acceleration is zero. After 8 second magnitude of relative velocity will increase upto 12 seconds when
second particle strikes the ground.

2. Vr  40iˆ  50jˆ
r  80iˆ  150ˆj
r

Vr .rr 10700 107

tmin = 2
  = 2.6 sec.
Vr 4100 41

3. X1 = – 3t2 + 8t + 10

v 1  (6t  8)î = 2 î
Y2 = 5 – 8t3

v 2  24t 2 ĵ
 
v  | v 2  v 1 |  | 24 ĵ  2î |
v  242  22
v = 580

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ADVRL - 17
Relative Motion
HIGH LEVEL PROBLEMS (HLP)
1. Method - 1
If the river is still, the man will be at a distance 3 meters from origin O after 1 second. The locus of all
the point where man can reach at t = 1 second is a semicircle of radius 3 and centre at O (dotted
semicircle shown in figure).
The river flows to right with a speed 1 m/s. Hence there shall be additional shift in position by
1 m/s × 1 sec = 1m towards right. Hence the locus of all points giving possible position after one second
will be the dotted semicircle shifted to right by 1 m as shown in figure.

Hence locus all the points where the man can be at t = 1 sec. is a semicircle of radius 3 and centre at
O (1 m, 0 m)
 Equation of locus of all the points is
(x – 1)2 + (y – 0)2 = 32
or (x – 1)2 + y2 = 9
Method - 2
Let the relative velocity of the man make angle ‘’ with the x-axis.
Then at time ‘t’ :
x = (3 cos + 1) t
and y = 3 sint
 (x – t)2 + y2 = (3 cos)2 t2 + (3 sin)2 t2
(x – t)2 + y2 = 9t2
at t = 1 sec. the required equation is (x – 1)2 + y2 = 9.

2. (a)

Velocity of approach along line joing them

= u – Vr sin+ u + Vr sin = 2u
D
So time t = Ans.
2u
(b) For path to be at right angle to each other, their velocity vector with respect to ground
must be right angle. Taking axis system as shown

VA = (u sin  + vr) ˆi  ucos ˆj

VB = (vr – u sin ) ˆi  ucos ˆj
For VA & VB to perpendicular VA . VB = 0
(u sin  + vr) (vr – usin ) – u2cos2 = 0
 vr = u
Speed of river should be equal to the speed of the swimmer relative to river. Ans.
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ADVRL - 18
Relative Motion
3. Let particle A is moving with uniform velocity and particle B is moving with constant acceleration.

At any time, velocity of B with respect to A is

VBA = VBG  VAG = (a)t  u
VBA = VBA = u2  a2 t 2  2uat cos 
For relative velocity to be least
dv BA ucos 
=0  2a2t – 2uacos = 0  t=
dt a
(VBA) least = u2  u2 cos2   2u2 cos2 
(VBA) least = u sin 
ucos 
At time t =
a
distance between the two particles
2
 1 2
x2  y2 =  ucos t  2 at   (usin t)
2
sBA =
 
2 2
 u2 cos2  u2 cos2    u2 sin  cos  
=     
 a 2a   a 
u4 cos4  u4 sin2  cos 2  u2 cos 
=  = cos2   4sin2 
4a2 a2 2a
u2 cos 
sBA = 1  3sin2 
2a
Alternative Method :

(VBA)least = u sin 
relative velocity of B w.r.t. A is least at time t which is given by
u cos  = at
ucos 
t=
a
for distance between A and B at the time t
By cosine formula

2
1  1 
s= u2 t 2   at 2   2(ut)  at 2  cos 
 2   2 
u2 cos  ucos 
= 1  3sin2  using t =
2a a
u2 cos 
Ans. (a) (vrel)least = u sin (b) separation = 1  3sin2 
2a

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ADVRL - 19
Relative Motion
4. In the frame of train, the distance between A and B remains constant which is equal to  = 350. Hence,
in the frame of train the distance between two events is equal to AB =  = 350 m.

Distance between these points with respect to ground

d =  + x1 – x2
1 2 1
=+ t – (t + )2
2 2
 
=  –   t   ~ 240 m
 2
Time between these two events =  = 60 sec.
240
Velocity of frame V = = 4 m/s.
60

5. (a) Relative velocity along AB  u + v

BC  v 2  u2
CD v – u
DA  v 2  u2     
 time taken

a a a a
t = + + +
v u v u
2 2 v u v  u2
2

2a  1 1 
= + a  
v u
2 2
 v u v u
2a  v u v u
= +a  
v u
2 2
 v 2  u2 
2a 2av
= +
v u
2 2 v  u2
2

 v 2  u2  v 
= 2a  
 v  u
2 2

 v  v 2  u2 
t = 2a  
 v  u
2 2

2a  v  v 2  u2 
t = 2
v  u2  

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ADVRL - 20
Relative Motion
(b) Along AB
Let w1 is the resultant velocity

u
w1 = + v cos
2
u u u2
= + v 1  sin2  = + v 1
2 2 2v 2

Similarly, we can show that

Along BC Resultant velocity

u2 u
w2 = v 1  2
–
2v 2
Along CD Resultant velocity
u2 u
w3 = v 1  2
–
2v 2
Along DA Resultant velocity
u u2
w4 = + v 1
2 2v 2
 Total time taken :-
a a a a
t = + + +
w1 w2 w3 w4
2a 2a 2 2a 2v 2  u2
= + =
u u2 u2 u v 2  u2
 v 1 v 1 
2 2v 2 2v 2 2

6. Let man swim at angle  with the line AB than it’s velocity with respect to ground any time t is as shown.

along y-axis
Vy = V cos = 5 cos 

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ADVRL - 21
Relative Motion
d
So time taken to cross the river t = ....(i)
5cos 
and velocity along x-axis
dx t
Vx = u – Vsin  = – 5 sin
dt 2
t 
x t

0 dx = 0  2  5sin   dt
t2
x= – 5t sin
4
For complete motion x = 0
t2
 – 5 t sin = 0  t = 20 sin  ....(ii)
4
by eq (i) and (ii)
100 cos sin = d = 48 m
24  24 
sin 2 =  2 = sin–1  
25  25 
2 = 74º   = 37º
2 = 106º   = 53º
from eq (ii) (ii)
for  = 37º  t = 12 sec
for  = 53º  t = 16 sec
also y-coordinate of man
y = 5t cos ....(iii)
y2
x= – y tan 
100cos2 
y2 3y
by eq (ii) and (iii) x= –
64 4

7. Velocity of helicopter and child is as shown

80
3

Now velocity of helicopter with respect to child

80
sin  – 4
600 3
tan  = 3 =  tan  =   = 37º
80 16 800 4
cos  –
3 3
80 16 80 16
Now horizontal velocity = cos  – = cos37º – = 16 m/s
3 3 3 3
800
So time taken = = 50 sec.
16
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ADVRL - 22
Relative Motion
8. t=0

Vbt  20


Vtg  10

  
v bg = v bt + v tg

v bt = 20 cos 37o î + 20 sin 37o ĵ
4 3
= 20 × î + 20 × ĵ = 16 î + 12 ĵ
5 5

v tg = 10 î

 v bg = 26 î + 12 ĵ
At t = 0 xb = 0 xt = 0
Let they meet after time t
Xb(t) – Xb(0) = 26 t
1 2
Xtrain(t) – Xtrain(o) = 10t + at
2
2.v y
Let The ball return to train after time t  t=
g
2  12 12
t= = s
10 5
1 2
Xb(t) = Xtrain (t)  26.t =10 t + at
2
1
16 = at
2
32 40
= a= m/s2
t 3
Vtrain(t) = 10 + at.
40 12
Vtrain (t) = 10 + × = 10 + 32 = 42 m/s
3 5
9. Let after time t, A is at P and B is at Q. Let T = Total time. Their velocities after time t
VA = at ....(1)
VB = bt ....(2)
Let distance PQ = x.
Velocity of approch along PQ
= VB – VA cos
dx
  = VB – VA cos = bt – at cos
dt

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ADVRL - 23
Relative Motion


0 T
    dx =  (bt  at cos )dt
0
2 T
bT
 = – a  t cos  dt ....(3)
2 0
For motion along x-axis :
T
1
0 VB cos  dt = 2 aT2
T
1 2
 bt cos  dt =
0 2
aT
T
1 aT 2
   t cos  dt = .....(4)
0 2 b
Put into (3) :
bT 2 1 aT 2
= –a×
2 2 b
b
 T=
b  a2 2

Now, distance travelled by B

T T
1 2
s=  VB dt =  bt dt =
0 0 2
bT

1 2 b b
 s = b. 2 = 2 Ans.
2 b  a2 b  a2

10. v = velocity of swimmer in still mater = 2.5 km/hr.

u = velocity of stream = 2 km/hr.
For Swimmer 1
Time taken to reach point B
d
t = ................ (1)
v  u2
2

For Swimmer 2
at v0 = velocity of walking along shore
Time to reach C
d
t1 =
v
Time taken in coming from C to B
u
d
ud
t2 = v =
v0 v v0
 Total time
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ADVRL - 24
Relative Motion
t = t 1 + t2
d ud
= + ........... (2)
v v v0
From (1) and (2)
d d ud
= +
v u
2 2 v v v0
 v 2  u2 
 v0 =   ×u
 v  v 2  u2 
 
Putting u = 2 and v = 2.5 km/hr ; v = 2.52.5 km/hr
 v0 = 3 km/hr.

11. We have
v  v0  v ' ...(1)
From the vector diagram [of equation (1)] and using properties of triangle
v’2 = v 02 + v2 – 2v0v cos( – )
or, v’ = v 02  v 2  2v 0 v cos  = 40 km/hr ...(2)
v' v v sin 
and  or, sin =
sin(   ) sin  v'
 v sin  
or  = sin–1  
 v' 
Using (2) and putting the values of v and d
 = 19°

12.

As given
(VA–VB) xA–xB
(VA–VB) = K(xA–xB)
when xA–xB = 10 We have VA–VB = 10
We get
10 = K10  K=1
 VA–VB = (xA–xB) .........(1)
Now Let
xA – xB = y .........(2)
On differentiating with respect to ‘t’ on both side.
dx dx dy
 A  B =
dt dt dt
Using (1) and (2)
d(x A – xB )
= xA – xB
dt
d(x A – xB )
= dt
x A – xB
20
  n(x A – xB )10 = t
t = (loge2) sec Required Answer.

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ADVRL - 25
Relative Motion
13. (a)
Accelerations of particle and block are shown in figure.
Acceleration of particle with respect to block
= acceleration of particle – acceleration of block
= (g sin  î + g cos  ĵ ) – ( g sin  î  = g cos  ĵ 
Now motion of particle with respect to block
will be a projectile as shown.
The only difference is, g will be replaced by g cos 
u2 sin2
 PQ = Range (R) =
gcos 
u2 sin2
PQ = Ans.
gcos 
(b) Horizontal displacement of particle with respect to ground is zero. This implies that initial velocity of
particle with respect to ground is only vertical, or there is no horizontal component of the absolute
velocity of the particle.
Let v be the velocity of the block down the plane.
Velocity of particle with respect to block = u cos ( +  ) î + u sin ( + ) ĵ
Velocity of block = – v cos  î – v sin  ĵ  
Velocity of particle with respect to ground = { u cos ( +  ) – v cos } + {u sin ( +  ) – v sin } ĵ
Now as we said earlier with that horizontal component of absolute velocity should be zero.
Therefore,
u cos (  +  ) – v cos  = 0
ucos(  )
or v  ( down the plane )
cos 
ucos(  )
v Ans.
cos 

14. At t = 0, raft (a float of timber) and motor boat are at point A. The velocity of raft is equal to velocity of
stream.
At t =  = 60 min, the motor boat is at point P and raft is at point B.
 The time taken by raft to reach from A to B = the time taken by motor boat to reach at P from A.
At t =  + t0, both meet at point C,
So, the time taken by raft to reach at C from B is equal to the time taken by the motor boat to reach at C
from P in upstream motion. This time is equal to t0.

Let
vA = actual velocity of motor boat,
vB = actual velocity of stream = velocity of raft
 During down stream,
vc = relative velocity of motor with respect to stream.
 v0 = vA – vB
 vA = v0 + vB
AP AP
 = =
vA v 0  vB
But AB = distance travelled by raft in time  = vB
During upstream,
v0 = vA + vB
 vA = v0 – vB
 PC = distance travelled by motor boat in upstream in time t0 = (v0 – v B) t0
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ADVRL - 26
Relative Motion
BC = distance travelled by raft in time t0 = vBt0
According to fig.
 AP – PC = AC = 
or (v 0 + vB)  – (v0 – vB) t0 = 
or v0t +vB t – v0t0 + vBt0 =    ..........(i)
Also,  AB + BC = 
or vBt + vBt0 = 

or vB = ..........(ii)
  t0
From equation (i) and (ii) we get
v0t +vBt – v0t0 + vBt0 = 

or v0    – v0 t0  t0 
  t0 t0  
or v02 +  – v0t02 + t0 =  ( + t0)
or v02 – v0t02 =  ( + t0) –  – t0
or  = t0
From (i) we have
v0 +vB – v0t0 + vBt0 = 
putting  = t0
we get, v B = .
2

15.

d
time to cross river t =
ucos 
d
Drift x = (2u – u sin)t = (2u – u sin)
ucos 
Drift x = (2 sec – tan)d
dx
= (2 sec tan – sec2)d = 0  2 tan = sec
d
 = 30º with the river flow current
angle with stream 30º + 90º = 120º .

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ADVRL - 27
Relative Motion

 Marked Questions can be used as Revision Questions.

SUBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
1. A man can swim in still water with a speed of 3 m/s. x and y axis are drawn along and normal to the
bank of river flowing to right with a speed of 1 m/s. The man starts swimming from origin O at
t = 0 second. Assume size of man to be negligible. Find the equation of locus of all the possible points
where man can reach at t = 1 sec.

2. Two swimmers ‘A’ & ‘B’, one located on one side and other on the another side of a river are situated at
a distance ‘D’ from each other. Line joining them is making an angle  with the direction perpendicular
to flow. The speed of each swimmer with respect to still water is ‘u’ & speed of river flow is v r. Both
A & B start swimming at the same time in the direction parallel to line AB towards each other and they
keep on swimming in same direction. Then,
(a) Find the time after which they will meet.
(b) Find the speed of river (vr) so that the path of the two swimmers with respect to the ground becomes
perpendicular to each other.
3. Two particles start simultaneously from the same point and move along two straight lines making an
angle  with each other. One move with uniform velocity u and the other with constant acceleration a
and initial velocity zero.
(a) Find the least relative velocity of one with respect to other.
(b) At the same time, find the distance between the two particles.

4. A train of length  = 350 m starts moving rectilinearly with constant acceleration  = 3.0 ×10–2 m/s2;
t = 30 s after the start the locomotive headlight is switched on (event 1), and  = 60 sec after that event
the train signal light is switched on (event 2). Find the distance between these events in the reference
frames fixed to the train and to the Earth. How and at what constant velocity V relative to the Earth must
a certain reference frame K move for the two events to occur in it at the same point?
5. Find the time an aeroplane having velocity v (relative to air), takes to fly around a square with side a
and the wind blowing at a velocity u, in the two cases,
(a) if the direction of wind is along one side of the square,
(b) If the direction of wind is along one of the diagonals of the square
6. A man starts swimming at time t = 0 from point A on the ground and he wants to reach the point B
m
directly opposite the point A. His velocity in still water is 5 and width of river is 48 m. River flow
sec
t metre
velocity ‘u’ varies with time t (in seconds) as u = . He always tries to swim in particular fixed
2 sec
 24 
direction with river flow. Find the (Given sin–1   = 74º)
 25 

(a) direction (with line AB) in which he should make stroke and the time taken by man to cross the river.
(b) trajectory of path.
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Relative Motion
7. A child in danger of drowing in a river is being carried downstream by a current that flows uniformly at a
16
speed of m/sec. The child is 600m from shore and 800m downstream of a helipad when the rescue
3
helicopter sets out and the helicopter follows the same direction throughout the motion. If the helicopter
80
proceeds at its maximum speed of m/sec. with respect to air and air is blowing with velocity of
3
4m/sec perpendicular to river flow velocity as shown, then

(i) Heading at what angle with the shore should the helicopter take off?
(ii) Calculate the time taken by helicopter to reach the child.

8. A boy sitting at the rear end of a railway compartment of a train, running at a constant acceleration on
horizontal rails, throws a ball towards the fore end of the compartment with a muzzle velocity of
20 m/sec at an angle 37º above the horizontal, when the train is running at a speed of 10 m/sec. If the
same boy catches the ball without moving from his seat and at the same height of projection, find the
speed of the train at the instant of his catching the ball. [g = 10 m/sec2; sin 37º = 3/5]

9. In the figure shown A and B are two particles which start from rest. A has constant acceleration ' a ' in
the direction shown. B also increases its speed at a constant rate ' b ', but the direction of velocity is
always towards A. Find the time after which B meets A. Also find the total distance travelled by B.
(b > a)

10. Two swimmers start from point A on one bank of a river to reach point B on the other bank, lying
directly opposite to point A. One of them crosses the river along the straight line AB, while the other
swims at right angles to the stream and then walks the distance which he has been carried away by the
stream to get to point B. What was the velocity (assumed uniform) of his walking if both the swimmers
reached point B simultaneously? Velocity of each swimmer in still water is 2.5 km h 1 and the stream
velocity is 2 km h1.

11. A ship moves along the equator to the east with velocity v 0 = 30 km/hour. The southeastern wind blows
at an angle  = 60° to the equator with velocity v = 15 km/hour. Find the wind velocity v’ relative to the
ship and the angle ’ between the equator and the wind direction in the reference frame fixed to the
ship.

12. Two cars A and B are racing along straight line. Car A is leading, such that their relative velocity is
directly proportional to the distance between the two cars. When the lead of car A is 1 = 10 m, it's
running 10 m/s faster than car B. If the time car A will take to increase its lead to 2 = 20 m from car B is
t = (logen) sec, then find n.
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Relative Motion
13. A large heavy box is sliding without friction down a smooth plane of inclination  from a point P on the
bottom of the box, a particle is thrown inside box. The initial speed of the particle with respect to the box
is u and the direction of projection makes an angle  with the bottom as shown in the figure :
[JEE-1998, 5 + 3/120]


Q
P

(a) Find the distance along the bottom of the box between the point of projection P and the point Q
where the particle lands (Assume that the particle does not hit any other surface of the box. Neglect
air resistance.)
(b) If the horizontal displacement of the particle as seen by an observer on the ground is zero, find the
speed of the box with respect to the ground at the instant when the particle was projected.
14. A motorboat going downstream overcame a raft (A wooden block) at a point A; = 60 min later it turned
back and after some time passed the boat meets raft at a distance  = 6.0 km from the point A. Find
the flow velocity assuming the duty of the engine to be constant.
15. A boat moves relative to water with a velocity half of the river flow velocity. If the angle from the
2
direction of flow at which the boat must move relative to stream direction to minimize drift is , then
n
find n.

D
1. (x – 1)2 + y2 = 9 2. (a) (b) vr = u
2u
u2 cos 
3. (a) (vrel)least = u sin (b) separation = 1  3 sin2 
2a
6
4. x1 – x2 = – w(t + /2) = km, Towards the train with velocity v = 4 m/s
25
 2v 2  u2 
5. (a) 2
2a
v  u2

v  v 2
 u 2
 (b) 2 2 a  2
 v  u2 

 
3y
6. (a) 37º and 53º, 12 sec. and 16 sec. (b) x = y2/64 –
4
2 b b2
7. (i) 37º (ii) 50 sec 8. 42 m/s 9. t= , 2
b a
2 2
b  a2

10. 3 km/h towards B 11. v = v02  v 2  2v0 v cos   40 km per hour, ’ = 19°
ucos(  )
12. 2 13. (a) PQ = (u2 sin 2 )/g cos  (b) v 
cos 
14. vB = /2 = 3.0 km per hour 15. 3

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