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Physics: Understanding Relative Motion

Relative motion describes the motion of an object with respect to other moving or stationary objects. Relative motion can be analyzed in one or two dimensions. In one dimension, the relative position (x), velocity (v), and acceleration (a) of an object A with respect to another object B can be determined by considering the motion of A and B separately and then combining them. In two dimensions, similar equations relate the relative position (r), velocity (v), and acceleration (a) of objects, where the motion is analyzed along two perpendicular axes. Relative velocity is defined as the difference between the velocities of two objects.

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71 views12 pages

Physics: Understanding Relative Motion

Relative motion describes the motion of an object with respect to other moving or stationary objects. Relative motion can be analyzed in one or two dimensions. In one dimension, the relative position (x), velocity (v), and acceleration (a) of an object A with respect to another object B can be determined by considering the motion of A and B separately and then combining them. In two dimensions, similar equations relate the relative position (r), velocity (v), and acceleration (a) of objects, where the motion is analyzed along two perpendicular axes. Relative velocity is defined as the difference between the velocities of two objects.

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RoyalMart LK
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Relative motion

The motion of an object with


respect to other moving or
stationary object is called a
relative motion.
Relative motion in one dimension
Stationary acceleration
Constant velocity

Frame - A Frame - B Frame - C

xB/A xC/B
xC/A
From above figure, Now differentiate eq.(2) w.r.t. time we get,

xC/A = xB/A + xC/B … … . . (1) aC/A = aB/A + aC/B


Differentiate eq.(1) w.r.t. time we get, The term aB/A is zero, because vB/A is constant

vC/A = vB/A + vC/B … … . . (2) aC/A = aC/B


Relative motion in one dimension
vA vB

Car - A Car - B

Relative velocity of A w.r.t. B Relative velocity of B w.r.t. A

vA/B = vA − vB vB/A = vB − vA
𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 − 𝟏: 𝐯𝐀 = 𝐯𝐁
x
𝐱𝐀 (m) 𝐱𝐁 (m) 60 B
Time (s)
0 10 25 50
A
5 15 30 40

10 20 35 30

15 25 40 20

20 30 45 10

25 35 50 0 t
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 − 𝟐: 𝐯𝐀 < 𝐯𝐁
x B

Time (s) 𝐱𝐀 (m) 𝐱𝐁 (m) 60

0 10 20 50
A
5 15 30 40

10 20 40 30

15 25 50 20

20 30 60 10

25 35 70 0 t
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 − 𝟑: 𝐯𝐀 > 𝐯𝐁
x A
B
Time (s) 𝐱𝐀 (m) 𝐱𝐁 (m) 60
x
0 10 30 50

5 20 35 40

10 30 40 30
t
15 40 45 20

20 50 50 10

25 60 55 0 t
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Two objects moving in opposite direction
x A
Time (s) 𝐱𝐀 (m) 𝐱𝐁 (m) 60

0 10 55 50
x
5 20 50 40

10 30 45 30
t B
15 40 40 20

20 50 35 10

25 60 30 0 t
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Relative motion in two dimension
Constant velocity

acceleration

rC/B
Frame - B
Stationary
Frame - C

rB/A
rC/A

Frame - A
Relative motion in two dimension
From above figure,
rC/A = rB/A + rC/B … … . . (1)

Differentiate eq.(1) w.r.t. time we get,


vC/A = vB/A + vC/B … … . . (2)

Now differentiate eq.(2) w.r.t. time we get,


aC/A = aB/A + aC/B
The term aB/A is zero, because vB/A is constant
aC/A = aC/B
Relative motion in two dimension

−vB vB
vB vA/B vB/A

vA −vA

vA
vA/B = vA − vB vB/A = vB − vA
Thank
you

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