PHYSICS 71

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
Chapter 3 Motion in Two or Three Dimensions

09 Relative Motion
National Institute of Physics
College of Science
University of the Philippines Diliman
Relative
RelativeMotion
velocity 2

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
We We want to know
associate the velocity
motion by of the passenger
measuring it (P) r
the ground
relative (G). The passenger
to someone. is inside athe
For example, train (T) w
known velocity
ground-based relative to
observer (G). the person in
sees
the train moving at +11 m/s.
 Relative velocity
Relative Motion 3

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
We want to know the velocity of the passenger (P) r
Similarly, the (G).
the ground person in the train
The passenger seesathe
is inside train (T) w
ground-based observer
known velocity relative to (G). move at
− 11.0 m/s.
Motion is relative!
 Relative Motion: Reference Frame 4

 A frame of reference
is an object or system

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
wherein velocity is
measured.
 Has its own
coordinate system
and measure of time.

Motion is relative!

Source: Wikimedia Commons

 Relative Motion: Reference Frame 5

 An inertial frame of reference is a frame

of reference in which a body is not

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
accelerating i.e. the body is at rest or it is
moving at a constant speed in a straight
line.

INERTIAL NON-INERTIAL
Source: dsource.in
 Relative velocity
Relative Motion: Velocity 6

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
We want to know the velocity of the passenger (P) relat
❑ Lettheusground
denote
(G). Thethe passenger,
passenger is inside a train,
train (T) with
andknown ground-observer
velocity relative to (G). with the
subscripts P, T, and G, respectively.
 Relative velocity
Relative Motion: Velocity 7

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
❑
We want to
Whenever weknow the velocity
define of the passenger
relative velocities,(P) relat
the ground (G). The passenger is inside a train (T) with
we known
use the notation
velocity relative to (G).
𝑣⃗A/B
which means that this is the velocity of
object A with respect to B.
 Relative velocity
Relative Motion: Velocity 8

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
We want to know the velocity of the passenger (P) relat
Whatthe
is ground
the velocity of the passenger with
(G). The passenger is inside a train (T) with
respect
knownto velocity
the ground?
relative to (G).
𝑣⃗P/G = 𝑣⃗P/T + 𝑣⃗T/G
This gives us 𝑣⃗P/G = +11 m/s.
 Relative velocity
Relative Motion: Velocity 9

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
What Weis want
the to
velocity
know theof the ground-observer
velocity of the passenger (P) relat
with the ground to
respect (G).the
Thepassenger?
passenger is inside a train (T) with
known velocity relative to (G).
𝑣⃗G/P = −𝑣⃗P/G
This gives us 𝑣⃗P/G = −11 m/s.
 Relative velocity
Relative Motion: Velocity 10

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
WhatWeiswant
the tovelocity
know the of
velocity
the of the passenger
passenger with(P) relat
the ground (G). The passenger is inside a train (T) with
respect to himself?
known velocity relative to (G).
𝑣⃗P/P = 0
This gives us 𝑣⃗P/P = 0 m/s.
Relative Motion: Example 11

You are traveling north at a constant speed

of 88.0 kph . A truck traveling at 104 kph

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
constant speed approaches you head-on.
What is the truck’s velocity (in kph) relative
to you?

Answer: 𝑣⃗T/Y = −192 kph 𝑗Ƹ

Relative Motion: Example 12

Two cars are approaching an

intersection along perpendicular roads.
Car A is moving eastward at a speed of

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
25.0 m/s while car B is northward with
speed 15.8 m/s. What is the velocity of
car A relative to car B in component
and bearing representation?

m m
Answer: 𝑣⃗A/B = 25.0 𝑖Ƹ − 15.8 𝑗Ƹ
s s
m
𝑣⃗A/B = 29.6 , 32.3∘ S of E
s
Relative Motion: Example 13

(Ex. 3.78): A 400.0-[m]-wide river flows from west to east at 30.0

[m/min]. Your boat moves at 100.0 [m/min] relative to the water no
matter which direction you point it. To cross this river, you start from a
dock at point A on the south bank. There is a boat landing directly

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
opposite at point B on the north bank
a) Where on the north shore will you land if you point your boat
perpendicular to the water current?
b) What distance will you have traveled?
Relative Motion: Example 14

(Ex. 3.78): A 400.0-[m]-wide river flows from west to east at 30.0

[m/min]. Your boat moves at 100.0 [m/min] relative to the water no
matter which direction you point it. To cross this river, you start from a
dock at point A on the south bank. There is a boat landing directly

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
opposite at point B on the north bank
a) Where on the north shore will you land if you point your boat
perpendicular to the water current?
b) What distance will you have traveled?

a) Δ𝑥 = 120. m east of point B

b) 𝑑𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 = 418 m
Attendance Quiz (Bluebook) 15

AQ # 9
Date Score:

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
Solution:

Corrected by: B. Drill

Attendance Quiz 16

The compass of an airplane indicates

that it is headed due north, and its

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
airspeed indicator shows that it is
moving through the air at 𝟐𝟒𝟎 𝐤𝐦/𝐡𝐫. If
there is a wind of 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐤𝐦/𝐡𝐫 from west to
east, what is the velocity of the plane
relative to the earth?
Attendance Quiz: Solution 17

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
Answer: 𝑣⃗P/E = 260 km/hr, 67.4° N of E
Credits/References 18

 University Physics 13th Ed, H. Young and R. Freedman

Pearson Education 2014

𝑃ℎ𝑦𝑠𝑖𝑐𝑠 71
 Physics 71 Lectures by B. Galit, T. Abregana