GENERAL PHYSICS. ZTF – EHU.

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2B - Relative motion.

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1. Two particles move in the OXY plane with speeds v1 = 2ı̂ m/s and v2 = 3̂ m/s. If we know
that at time t = 0 their positions are (−3, 0) and (0, −3), when and where will they be the
closest? Result: tmin = 15
13
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, r1min = − 13 6
ı̂, r2min = 13 ĵ.

2. An observer sees that when driving her car at a constant speed of 80 km/h, raindrops fall in
the lateral window forming an angle of 80◦ with the vertical direction. On the other hand,
when she stops the car, raindrops fall vertically. Calculate the relative velocity of the raindrops
as measured from the car:

(a) when the observer is driving.

(b) when the car stops.

Result: a) 81.23 km h-1 and b) 14.11 km h-1.

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3. A disk of radius R rolls with constant v0 speed on a horizontal plane. Prove that the coordinates
of any point at the disk edge can be written as x = R(ωt − sin ωt) and y = R(1 − cos ωt) with
ω = v0 /R the angular speed and t the time elapsed since that point was in contact with the
plane. Additionally, compute the point’s velocity and acceleration.
h i  
Result: ~v = Rω (1 − cos (ωt)) î + sin (ωt)ĵ and ~a = Rω 2 sin (ωt)î + cos (ωt)ĵ .

z=z’
4. The circular iron ring of the figure rotates about the OZ axis with ω
m
ω = 2π rad/s angular speed. A small particle with mass m is
attached to the ring as in a collar and moves with constant uniform θ =30 v’
R=
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speed of 0.5 m/s relative to the ring. Determine the velocity and 1m
y=y’
acceleration of the mass as measured by an external observer at
rest at the instant shown in the figure. x=x’
HINT: At that instant you can safely assume that x = x0 , y = y 0 and z = z 0 .
√ √ √
Result: ~v = −πı̂ + 43 ̂ − 0.25k̂ and ~a = − 3πı̂ − (2π 2 + 0.125)̂ − 83 k̂.

y The pipe shown in the figure is moving on the OXY plane with
5. y’ constant angular speed about an axis that passes through the O
ω
point. There is a small ball inside the pipe (P ) and its relative
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x’ position can be written as: r 0 (t) = t2 ı̂0 , r0 expressed in meters

r’
P
and t in seconds. Calculate the velocity v(t) and the acceleration
θ x a(t) of the ball at any time as seen by an observer in the OXY
0
reference frame.
Result: ~v = (2t cos (ωt) − ωt2 sin (ωt)) ı̂ + (2t sin (ωt) + ωt2 cos (ωt)) ̂ ;
~a = [(2 − ω 2 t2 ) cos (ωt) − 4ωt sin (ωt)] ı̂ + [(2 − ω 2 t2 ) sin (ωt) + 4ωt cos (ωt)] ̂.

6. The X 0 Y 0 Z 0 reference frame rotates about the XY Z frame with all axes being the same at
t = 0. Both systems share the same origin and XY Z can be taken as fixed (it is an inertial
reference frame). The angular velocity of X 0 Y 0 Z 0 measured from XY Z is ω = (2t + 4)k̂,
with time t measured in seconds. Therefore, the angular velocity ω varies with time. The

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position of a particle placed at point P is described in the X 0 Y 0 Z 0 frame by the equation
r 0 = (t2 + 1)ı̂0 − 6t̂0 + 4t3 k̂ 0 . Obtain, at instant t = 1:

(a) v 0 , P ’s velocity, as measured at the X 0 Y 0 Z 0 frame.

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(b) v, P ’s velocity, as measured at the XY Z reference frame, using as basis the unit vectors
ı̂̂k̂.
(c) a0 , P particle’s acceleration, measured from the X 0 Y 0 Z 0 reference frame.
(d) a, P particle’s acceleration, measured from the XY Z reference frame and expressed using
the ı̂̂k̂ unit vectors as the basis of the vector space.

Result: a) ~v 0 = 2ı̂0 − 6̂0 + 12k̂ 0 , b) ~v = 16.5ı̂ − 34.7̂ + 12k̂, c) ~a 0 = 2ı̂0 + 24k̂ 0 and d)
~a = 238ı̂ + 55.8̂ + 24k̂.

7. The figure shows a helicopter that ascends with constant V vertical velocity. The angular
speeds of the blades of the helicopter’s rotors are ω1 and ω2 . There are two flies on points
P1 and P2 in the figure, walking with constant radial speeds v10 and v20 over the blades of the
helicopter. Which are, at the time shown in the figure, the speeds of the flies as measured by
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an observer at rest on the ground?

ω1 r’1
v’1
P1
ω2
v’2
P2
v
r’2
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p p
Result: v1 = ω12 r12 + v102 + V 2 and v2 = v202 + (ω2 r2 + V )2 .

8. Let’s assume that an air mass would travel, if the Earth were not rotating, from the North Pole
to the equator at a constant speed of 100 km/h following a meridian. If we now consider the
angular speed of the Earth:
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(a) Express in cm/s2 the magnitude of the Coriolis acceleration that would affect that air
mass as a function of latitude (ϕ).
(b) Which would be the direction of the deflection due to Coriolis as a function of latitude ϕ?

Result: |aCo | = 0.41 sin ϕ cm s-2, towards the West in the northern hemisphere.

9. The arm of a construction tower-crane rotates about its axis with a constant angular speed of
0.2 rad s-1. A small trolley moves away from the axis on the arm of the crane with a radial
velocity of 2 m s-1. At the same time, the crane is lifting a mass with a vertical velocity of 1
m s-1 measured from the crane. At a given moment, the mass is placed at a radial distance of
10 m measured from the axis of the crane and 15 m high over the surface. Compute, at that

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time, the radius of curvature of the trajectory of the mass lifted by the crane as measured by
an observer at rest on the ground. Result: R = 10.54 m.

10. [EXAM] The air speed (speed with respect to air) indicator of a plane that took off from

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Coruña reads vpa = 350 km/h and its compass indicates that it is heading due East to Bilbao.
That means that the longitudinal axis of the plane is oriented towards the East. A steady
wind is blowing due North at vw = 40 km/h. Calculate the speed of the plane with respect to
the ground vpg . If the pilot wishes to fly directly to Bilbao (due East) what must the compass
read?
Result: v~ag = 350ı̂ + 40̂ km/h or 352.27 km/h; 6.56◦ towards the South as measured from
East.

11. [EXAM] A truck is heading due North while descending a 10% slope in Urkiola. A road has
10% slope if tan α = 0.1, where α is the angle between the horizontal and the road. At the
end of the slope, a junction leads to a flat road, which makes an angle of 30◦ degrees towards
the East as measured from the North (i.e. the road heads NE and has no slope). On the flat
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section of the road a police car approaches the truck (in the opposite direction of the truck).
The speedometer of the truck shows that its speed is 90 km/h. The speedometer of the police
car shows that the police car is driving at 80 km/h. What is the speed of the truck as measured
by the radar inside the police car when the truck is descending Urkiola? Result: 164 km/h.
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PH