Relative motion

Relative position in one dimension

L = Lambourghini
V = Ventura
P = person

xLP

xVP

xVL
  
xVL  xVP  xPL The subscript rule
The inner subscripts must match
  
xLP  xLV  xVP The outer subscripts on the right
must be the same as those of the
  
xVP  xVL  xLP resultant vector
 Relative velocities in one dimension


vPL
 
vVP vVL

vLP

  
vVL  vVP  vPL
Important: The equations for relative position and velocity are in
VECTOR form. Remember to assign appropriate signs – or + to EACH
vector depending on the choice of coordinate system and subscripts.
 Relative velocities in 1D: person walking on a
moving train

vPT  Velocity of person relative to train


vTG Velocity of train relative to ground

What is the velocity of the person relative to the ground?

  
v v v
PG PT TG
The subscript rule:
• the inner subscripts must match
• the outer subscripts on the right must
be the same as the resultant vector
 Relative motion in 1D: problem solving
Given:
A boat travels along a river with velocity of 5 m/s with res-
• VBW = 5 m/s
pect to the water. The river flows with velocity of 2 m/s
with respect to the shore. • VWS = 2 m/s

Q. What is the velocity of the boat with respect to the Find:

shore when traveling along and opposite to the river flow? • VBS = ?

Case 1: boat moving down the river

  
vBS  vBW  vWS
m
 BS 5 2 7
v BW v BW s
vvWS
WS Case 2: boat moving up the river
  
shore
vBS  vBW  vWS
m
 BS   5  2  3
 s
 Relative motion in 2D: problem solving
A motor boat has to cross a river with velocity of 5 m/s Given:
relative to the water. The river flows with 2 m/s relative to • VBW = 5 m/s
the shore. • VWS = 2 m/s
Q. In what direction should the captain orient the boat, so
Find:
that its trajectory is perpendicular to the shores?
• VBS = ?

Consider the triangle ABC and find angle θ

 BS   BW cos   1
WS 2 2
sin      sin 1  
v BS  BW 5 5

   23.6 
v BW
vWS Substitute the angle θ in eq. (1) and find VBS

m
 BS  5  cos  23.6    4.58
s
 Relative motion in 2D: problem solving
A motor boat has to cross a river with velocity of 5 m/s Given:
relative to the water. The river flows with 2 m/s relative to • VBW = 5 m/s
the shore.
• VWS = 2 m/s
Q1. In what direction should the captain orient the boat,
so that it crosses the river in shortest possible time? Find:
• VBS = ?
Q2. If the river is 0.5 km wide, how long will the crossing
take?

Intuitive solution would be to cross

the river in the shortest distance.

v BS d t1 
d
t1 
500
 109.17 s
 BS 4.58

v BW vWS However, as we shell prove this is
NOT the correct solution!

http://users.erols.com/renau/velocity_composition.html
 Relative motion in 2D: problem solving
(continued)

v BS In order to cross the river in the SHORTEST possible time,

the boat should travel the SHORTEST possible distance with
the FASTEST possible speed.

v BW We need to maximize the y component of the velocity VBW,

which is the same as the y component of the velocity VBS.
We can achieve that by pointing the vector VBS at an angle, so

vWS that it’s y component is maximal and equal to VBW.

Then, we can calculate the time t2 two separate ways:

1. Consider the motion of the boat ONLY in Y direction = >

v BS s2 t2 
d

500
 100 s  t 2  t1
 BW 5

v BW
2. Consider the motion of the boat along the path S2 = >
 s   t (1) s  d   t
2 2

2
(2)
2 BS 2 2 WS 2
Combine eq.1 and eq.2 = >
vWS t2 
d

d

500
 100 s
 BS
2
 WS
2
 BW 5
SAME RESULT!!!
 Relative motion in 2D: problem solving
An airplane has to fly from city A to city B, located at a Given:
distance of 1000 km northeast from A. The speed of the • VAW = 300 km/h
airplane in still air is 300 km/h. To account for the effect of a • VWG = 50 km/h
strong wind blowing at 50 km/h in NE direction (45°) the pilot • θ0 = 45°
chooses to head the plane in direction North.
Find:
Q. What is the velocity of the airplane relative to the ground? • VAG = ?
N   
W E
 AG   AW  W G
b
S
v AG  A – airplane, W – wind, G – ground
v AW  a 2  b 2  c 2  2 bc cos   
 a b c
 
 c  a sin    sin    sin   
Straight line = 180° !!!

0   0    180 
vWG   180    0  180   45 
  135 
 Relative motion in 2D: problem solving
An airplane has to fly from city A to city B, located at a Given:
distance of 1000 km northeast from A. The speed of the • VAW = 300 km/h
airplane in still air is 300 km/h. To account for the effect of a • VWG = 50 km/h
strong wind blowing at 50 km/h in NE direction (45°) the pilot • θ0 = 45°
chooses to head the plane in direction North.
Find:
Q. What is the velocity of the airplane relative to the ground? • VAG = ?

v AG b a 2  b 2  c 2  2 bc cos   
v AW  a   AG b   WG c   AW     180    0
 
  AG
2
  AW
2
  WG
2
 2 AW  WG cos  180    0 
c a

0   AG
2
  300    50   2  300    50  cos  135  
2 2


km 2 km
 2
 113713 2  AG  337
vWG AG
h h
 Relative motion in 2D: problem solving
An airplane has to fly from city A to city B, located at a Given:
distance of 1000 km northeast from A. The speed of the • VAW = 300 km/h
airplane in still air is 300 km/h. To account for the effect of a • VWG = 50 km/h
strong wind blowing at 50 km/h in NE direction (45°) the pilot • θ0 = 45°
chooses to head the plane in direction North.
Find:
Q. What is the velocity of the airplane relative to the ground? • VAG = ?

v AG b
a

b

c
v AW sin    sin    sin   

  a   AG b   WG c   AW     135    

c a  AG WG WG
 sin     sin   
 sin    sin     AG
0

50
sin     sin  135     6 , EN 

vWG 337
 Relative motion in 2D: problem solving
Given:
After a short stop-over the airplane has to return to city A. • VAW = 300 km/h
The pilot decides to follow the same route home. Assume • VWG = 50 km/h
that the weather conditions have not changed. • θ0 = 45°
Q. What course should the pilot take?

a b c
 
0 sin    sin    sin   
vWG
a   AW b   W G c   AG

     180    0     1

 AW WG WG
v AW a c  sin  1   sin   
sin    sin  1   AW
 sin   1  
50
sin  135   6   1  6 
  300
1 v b
AG
H eading     1  6   6   12  , SW
 Lecture 5 in a nutshell
  
vPG  vPT  vTG The subscript rule


Heading This is the direction you point the vehicle, v
BW
This means the direction the vehicle moves relative to
the shore v
Goes
BS
Parallelogram rule for 2D examples

Cosine rule a 2
 b 2
 c 2
 2 bc cos   
a b c
Sine rule  
sin    sin    sin   