Relative Motion

Table of Content
Relative Velocity

Physical Significance of Relative Velocity

Relative Motion between Rain and Man

Relative Motion of a Swimmer in Flowing Water

Crossing of the River in Minimum Time

Velocity of Separation / Approach, Relative Angular Velocity

Related Resources

Relative Velocity

In spite of our best efforts we could not find a fixed point with respect to which we should study
absolute rest and absolute motion. So, the study of relative rest and relative motion assumes
importance.

Consider two cars A and B running parallel to each other on same road with same velocities. No
doubt the speedo meter of each indicates motion but the two drivers will always find themselves
facing each other.

Relative velocity of a body A with respect to another body B, when both are in motion, is the
velocity with which A appears to move to B.

The position, velocity and acceleration of a particle depend on the reference frame chosen.
A particle P is moving and is observed from two frames S and S'. The frame S is stationary and the
frame S' is in motion.
Let at any time position vector of the particle P with respect to S is,

Position vector of the origin of S' with respect to S is,

From vector triangle OO'P, we get,

Physical Significance of Relative Velocity

Let two cars move unidirectional. Two persons A and B are sitting in the vehicles as shown in figure.
Assume, VA = 10 m/s & VB = 4 m/s. The person A notices person B to be moving towards him with a
speed of (10-4) m/s = 6 m/sec. That is the velocity of B with respect to (or relative to) A. That means
is directed from B to A.
Similarly A seems to move towards B with a speed 6 m/sec. That means the velocity of A relative to
B( ) has the magnitude 6 m/sec & directed from A to B as shown in the figure.
Therefore,

In general,
So,

vAB = vA2 + vB2 - 2vAvB cos

and = tan-1{(vBsin)/(vA vBcos)}

Relative Motion between Rain and Man

We know that, vr = vrg = velocity of rain w.r.t. ground, vm vmg.

Velocity of man w.r.t. ground and

velocity of rain w.r.t. man.

So,
That means the vector addition of the velocity of rain with respect of man ( ) and the velocity of
man (vehicle) ( ) yield the actual velocity of rain . The magnitude and direction of can be
given as,
vr = ((vrm)2+(vm)2+ 2vrm vm cos)
? = tan-1((vrm sin)/(vrm cos+ vm )) with horizontal
Illustration (JEE Main):
Four particles A, B, C and D are in motion. The velocities of one with respect to other are given
as is 20 m/s towards north, is 20 m/s towards east and is 20 m/s towards south.
Then 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

Solution:
From the question, we know that,

... (1)

... (2)

... (3)

Equation (1) (2) + (3) gives:

or

That is, is 20 m/s towards west.

Thus from the above observation we conclude that, option (d) is correct.
Illustration:
A stationary person observes that rain is falling vertically down at 30 km/hr. A cyclist is moving on
the level road, at 10 km/hr. In which direction should the cyclist hold his umbrella to project himself
from rain?
Solution:
Relative to stationary frame, velocity of rain is 30 km/hr downward. Take horizontal axis as x-axis
and vertical axis as y-axis and i,j are the unit vectors along x and y axes respectively.
 = 0-30j, = 10

= -30j - 10i = -10i - 30j

If angle between horizontal and is , then,
tan = -30/-10 = 3
=> = tan-1 3 => =72
Therefore, to protect himself from rain the cyclist should hold the umbrella at an angle of 72 from
horizontal.
Illustration:
A man walking eastward at 5 m/s observes that wind is blowing from the north. On doubling his
speed eastward, he observes that wind is blowing from north-east. Find the velocity of the wind.
Solution:
Let velocity of the wind is,
vw=(v1i+v2j)m/s
And velocity of the man is,
vm=5i
So, vwm = vw- vm=(v1-5)i + v2j
In first case,
v1- 5 = 0 => v1= 5 m/s.
In the second case, tan 45o = v2/(v1- 10)
=> v2= v1 - 10 = -5 m/s.
=> vw= (5i - 5j) m/s.
Illustration:
From a lift moving upward with a uniform acceleration 'a', a man throws a ball vertically upwards with
a velocity v relative to the lift. The ball comes back to the man after a time t.
Show that a + g = 2 v/t
Solution:
Let us consider all the motion from lift frame. Then the acceleration, displacement and velocity
everything will be considered from the lift frame itself. As the ball comes back to the man, therefore
displacement from the lift frame is zero. Again, the velocity with respect to the lift frame is v.
g - (-a) = a + g () downwards
Now, s = ut + 1/2at2 => 0 = vt - 1/2 (a+g)t2
or a + g = 2(v/t) .
Relative Motion of a Swimmer in Flowing Water
Take = velocity of man
= velocity of flow of river,

= velocity of swimmer w.r.t. river

can be found by the velocity addition of and .

Crossing of the River with Minimum Drift

Case 1: vmw > w
A man intends to reach the opposite bank at the point directly opposite to the stationary point. He
has to swim at angle with a given speed w.r.t. water, such that his actual velocity will
direct along AB, that is perpendicular to the bank (or velocity of water ).

=> For minimum drift,

You can realize the situation by a simple example. If you want to reach the directly opposite point or
cross the river perpendicularly, a man, that is to say, Hari, must report you that, you are moving
perpendicular to the shore. What does this report signify? Since Hari observes your actual velocity (
) to be perpendicular to the bank is perpendicular to .
Observing the vector-triangle vw = vmw sin & vm = vmw cos
=> = sin-1 (vw/vmw ) & vm = ((vmw )2- (vw)2)
=> The time of crossing, t = d/vm
=> t = d/(vmw )2 - (vw)2)
Case 2 : vw > vmw
Let the man swim at an angle with normal to the bank for minimum drift. Suppose the drift is equal
to zero. For zero drift, the velocity of the man along the bank must be zero.
=> vm= vw- vmw sin ' = 0
This gives, sin' = vw / vmw, since vw > vmw, sin' > 1 which is impossible. Therefore, the drift cannot be
zero.
Now, let the man swim at an angle with the normal to the bank to experience minimum drift.
Suppose that the drifting of the man during time t when the reaches the opposite bank is,

BC = x
x = (vm)x (t) (1)
where t = AB/((vm )y cos) = d/(vmw cos) (2)
and (vm)x = vw vmw sin (3)
Using (1), (2) & (3), we obtain
x = (vw- vmw sin d/(vmw cos))

= (vw/vmw sec -tan)d

x = (vw/vmw sec -tan)d (4)
For x to be minimum,
dx/d = (vw/vmw sec - tan - sec2)d = 0
vw/vmw tan = (sec ) => sin = vmw/vw
= sin-1(vmw/vw)
Substituting the value of in (4), we obtain,
x = [(vw2 vmw2)/vmw] d
Refer this video for more about Relative Velocity
Crossing of the River in Minimum Time
Case 1: To reach the opposite bank for a given vmw
Let the man swim at an angle with AB. We know that the component of the velocity of man along
shore is not responsible for its crossing the river. Only the component of velocity of man (vm) along
AB is responsible for its crossing along AB.
The time of crossing = t = AB/(vmw cos)
Time is minimum when cos is maximum.

The maximum value of cos is 1 for = 0.

That means the man should swim perpendicular to the shore.
=> mw w
=> Then tmin = d/(vmw cos)|(=0) = d/vmw => tmin= d/vmw
Case 2:
To reach directly opposite point on the other bank for a given vmw & velocity v of walking along the
shore.
To attain the direct opposite point B in the minimum time, let the man swim at an angle with the
direction AB. The total time of journey t = the time taken from A to C and the time taken from C to B.
=> t = tAC + tCB
where tAC = AB/vmvcos & tCB = BC/v where v = walking speed of the man from C to B.
=> t = AB/vmvcos + BC/v
Again BC = (vm)xt
=> BC = (vw - vmwsin) (AB/vmwcos)
Using (1) & (2) we obtain,

t = AB/vmwcos + ((vw - vmwsin)/v(vmvcos))

=> t = AB[(1+vw/v)sec/vmv - tan/v]
 => t = d/vmv[(1+vw/v)sec/vmv - tan/v]
Putting dt/d = 0, For minimum t we get,
dt/d = d/d[d/vmv (1+vw/v) sec/vmv - tan/v]
= [sec/vmv - tan/v (1+vw/v) (sec2)/v] = 0
=>tan/vmv (1+vw/v) sec/v
=> sin = (vmw/v+vw)
=> = sin-1(vmw/v+vw)
This expression is obviously true when vmw < v + vw.
Velocity of Separation/Approach, Relative Angular
Velocity
Let thane be two particles A and B with velocity and at any instant as visualized from ground
frame.
If we visualize the motion of B from frame of A the velocity of particle B would be .

If , be the angle made with line AB,

then, VB cos - VA cos is relatively velocity of B w.r.t. A along line AB.

If VB cos - VA cos > 0; it is called as velocity of separation.
If VB cos - VA cos < 0; it is called as velocity of approach.
VB sin - VA sin is relative velocity of B w.r.t. A along direction perpendicular to AB. If length of AB
is,
then, angular velocity B w.r.t. A is (VB sin - VA sin)/l
and relative angular velocity = (VB sin - VA sin)/l.

The analytical method for determination of relative velocity of one body with respect to another which is discussed here is to
general nature. This treatment is valid for motion in two dimensions and in three dimensions also.

Relative velocity of a body A with respect to another body B, when both are in motion, is the velocity with which A appears to
move to B.
 Relative velocity of a body B w.r.t. a body A, when both are in motion, is the velocity with which B appears to move to A.

Question 1
A body dropped from a height h with initial velocity zero, strikes the ground with a velocity 3 m/s.
Another body of same mass dropped from the same height h with an initial velocity of 4 m/s. Find the
final velocity of second mass, with which it strikes the ground:

(a) 3 m/s (b) 4 m/s

(c) 5 m/s (d) 12 m/s

Question 2
From building two balls A and B are thrown such that A is thrown upwards and B downwards (both
vertically). If VA and VB are their respective velocities on reaching the ground, then:
(a) VB > VA (b) VA = VB

(c) VA> VB (d) their velocities depend on their masses

Question 3
If a car at rest accelerates uniformly to a speed of 144 km/h in 20 sec, it covers a distance of:
(a) 20 cm (b) 400 cm

(c) 1440 cm (d) 2980 cm

Question 4
A car, moving with a speed of 50 km/hr, can be stopped by brakes after atleast 6 m. If the same car
is moving at a speed of 100 km/hr, the minimum stopping distance is:
(a) 12 m (b) 18 m

(c) 24 m (d) 6 m

Q.1 Q.2 Q.3 Q.4

c b b c

Related Resources