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Additional Maths F5 – Interception – Example and explanationSource of question: specimen papers
At 08 00 hours, a lifeboat (L) which has a maximum speed of 50 km/h is 30 km to the west of a fishingboat (F). The fishing boat (F) is sailing at 15km/h on a bearing of 320°. Find the course which thelifeboat (L) should take in order to intercept the fishing boat as quickly as possible. Find the time tothe nearest minute at which interception would occur.
Step 1:
Draw a position diagram showing the initial position of the lifeboat (L) and that of the fishing boat (F).
Step 2:
Since we have all the numerical info for F, F is the observer (obs) and the above situation, whereBOTH L and F move is equivalent to F being a stationary observer and 'sensing' L coming straight onfrom the left flank at a velocity of
V 
 L
/
 F 
From
V 
 L
/
 F 
=
V 
 L
−
V 
 F 
we get
V 
L
/
 F 
=
50cos
50sin
−
−
15cos5015sin50
or
V 
 L
/
 F 
=
v
 x
v
 y
Step 3:
For interception to happen, at any time t, F must 'see' L coming to hit it from the left flank, so to speak.Therefore,
v
 y
=
0
 So,
50sin
−
15sin50
=
0
of 00

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