MELC RELATIVE MOTION

20 & MOTION in 2D
 RELATIVE MOTION & MOTION IN 2D

Review:

A plane is travelling at velocity 100 km/hr, in the southward direction. It encounters wind travelling in
the west direction at a rate of 25 km/hr. Calculate the resultant velocity of the plane.
 RELATIVE MOTION & MOTION IN 2D

DEFINITION OF TERMS

 REFERENCE POINT – the basis if the particle moves or not.

 RELATIVE MOTION – the measurement of an object's motion with respect to
any other object
RELATIVE MOTION & MOTION IN 2D

• Case 1: Car is your reference point

after overtaking before overtaking

As the car (reference point) overtakes the motorcycle, the motorcycle seems to be
moving leftward from the car (reference point).
( - ) direction
RELATIVE MOTION & MOTION IN 2D

• Case 2: Motorcycle is your reference point

before overtaking after overtaking

If you consider the motorcycle as the new reference point,

the car seems to move rightward from it.
( + ) direction
RELATIVE MOTION & MOTION IN 2D

The velocity of the object A relative to the object B can be given as,

Vab = Va - Vb

The velocity of the object B relative to the object A can be given as,

Vba = Vb - Va
 RELATIVE MOTION & MOTION IN 2D

Sample Problem:
Randy was standing in the side of the railway and a train wagon passes by him at a velocity of -10 m/s.
Troy is on the train and is walking towards the right at a velocity of 1m/s.
Hint: treat each object as if it is moving in a 1-dimensional plane (x-axis).

Troy (1 m/s)

train (-10m/s) Randy

 RELATIVE MOTION & MOTION IN 2D

a) What is the velocity of the train relative

to Randy’s position?

• Objects compared: train and Randy

• Reference Point: Randy

𝑣𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛,𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑦 = −10 𝑚/𝑠

train (-10m/s) Randy
 RELATIVE MOTION & MOTION IN 2D

b) What is the velocity of Troy relative to Troy (1 m/s)

Randy?

• Objects compared: Troy (on the train)

and Randy
• Reference Point: Randy

train (-10m/s) Randy

𝑣𝑇𝑟𝑜𝑦,𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑦 = −9 𝑚/𝑠
 RELATIVE MOTION & MOTION IN 2D

c) Is Troy moving to the left or right of Troy (1 m/s)

Randy?

𝑣𝑇𝑟𝑜𝑦,𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑦 = −9 𝑚/𝑠

Troy is moving leftward of Randy.

train (-10m/s) Randy
RELATIVE MOTION & MOTION IN 2D

Activity 1 (MELC 20 | Page 3)

1. What is the velocity of the boy

relative to the girl?
2. Who is the reference point in
question #1?
3. What is the velocity of the
stranger relative to the girl?
4. What is the velocity of the girl
relative to the stranger?
5. Who is the reference point in
question #4?
 RELATIVE MOTION & MOTION IN 2D

Sample Problem:

1. A motorcycle travelling on the highway at a velocity of 120 km/h passes a car travelling at a
velocity of 90 km/h. From the point of view of a passenger on the car, what is the velocity of the
motorcycle?

2. An aeroplane A flies with a velocity of 450 m/s to the north, while an aeroplane B travels at a
velocity of 500 m/s to the south beside aeroplane A. Calculate the relative velocity of the aeroplane
A with respect to aeroplane B.