03

MOTION IN A PLANE & RELATIVE MOTION

MOTION IN A PLANE & RELATIVE MOTION 110

Chapter 03

Motion in a Plane & Relative Motion

1. Motion in 2D (Plane)
1.1 Position Vector & Displacement

The position vector r of a particle P located in a plane with
reference to the origin of an x-y coordinate system is given

by r  xiˆ  yjˆ

Fig 3.2
dx dy
where, vx = and v y 
dt dt
 2 2
v  vx  vy ,

where v represents magnitude of velocity
Fig 3.1
vy
Suppose the particle moves along the path as shown to a and tan  
 vx
new position P1 with the position vector r

r  x ˆi  y ˆj
1 1 1
v 
or   tan 1  y 
change in position = displacement  vx 
 

 r1  r  x1ˆi  y ˆj  xiˆ  yjˆ    NOTE:
The instantaneous velocity at any point on the
(By vector addition)
path of an object is tangential to the path at that
  x  x  ˆi   y  y  ˆj
1 1 point and its direction is in the direction of
 xiˆ  yjˆ object’s motion.
from above figure we can see that
  
r  r1  r 1.4 Average Acceleration

 v v x ˆ v y ˆ
a avg   i j
1.2 Average Velocity t t t
 
  r  xiˆ   yjˆ a  a ˆi  a ˆj
avg x y
v av  
t t
v   v i   v ˆj
avg
ˆ
x y 1.5 Instantaneous Acceleration

NOTE:  dv dv x ˆ dv y
a  i ĵ
Direction of the average velocity is same as that dt dt dt
   
of  r . a  a ˆi  a ˆj
x y

1.3 Instantaneous Velocity

 2. Projectile Motion
 v dr
v  lim  When a particle is projected obliquely from the earth’s
t 0 t dt
 ˆ ˆ surface, it moves simultaneously in horizontal and vertical
v  v iv j x y directions in a curved trajectory as depicted in the diagram

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111 MOTION IN A PLANE & RELATIVE MOTION

below. Motion of such a particle is called projectile Horizontal Motion Vertical Motion
motion.
u x  u cos 
u y  u sin 
ax  0
a y  g
s x  u cos t  x
1
x sy  u y t  a y t 2
t 2
u cos x

So,
  x  1 x2 
Fig 3.3  y  u sin    g 2 2 
  u cos   2 u cos  
gx 2
2.1 Analysis of Velocity in Case of a  y  x tan  
2u 2 cos 2 
Projectile

Which resembles to y  bx  ax 2 
(i) This is an equation of a parabola
(ii) Because the coefficient of x2 is negative, it is an
inverted parabola.

Fig 3.4
From the above equations.
(i) V1x = V2x = V3x = V4x = ux = u cos  Fig 3.5
which means that the velocity along x-axis remains constant Path of the projectile is a parabola
[as there is no external force acting along that direction]
2u 2 sin  cos  2u 2 R
R or 
g g sin  cos 
(ii) a) Magnitude of velocity along y-axis first decreases
and then it increases after the topmost point P. Substituting this value in the above equation we have,
b) At topmost point magnitude of velocity is zero.  x
y  x tan  1  
c) Direction of velocity is in the upward direction while  R
ascending and is in the downward direction while
descending. In this case a particle is projected at an angle  with an
d) Magnitude of velocity at A is same as magnitude of initial velocity u. For this particular case we will calculate
velocity at O; but the direction is changed the following:
e) Angle which the net velocity makes with the horizontal (a) time taken to reach A from O
can be calculated by (b) horizontal distance covered (OA)
vy velocity along y  axis (c) maximum height reached during the motion
tan   
vx velocity along x  axis (d) velocity at any time ‘t’ during the motion
& net velocity is always along the tangent.

2.2 Equation of Trajectory

Trajectory is the path traced by the body. To find the
trajectory we must find relation between y and x by
eliminating time.
[Ref. to the earlier diag.]

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MOTION IN A PLANE & RELATIVE MOTION 112

Horizontal axis Vertical axis u sin 

t1 
u y  u sin  g
u sin 
a y  g t 2  T  t1 
g
1
sy  u y t  a y t 2 T u sin 
2 t1  t 2  
2 g
ux = u cos  when the particle returns to
ax = 0 same horizontal level,
(In the absence of any vertical displacement is 0
external force ax is assumed and time taken is called time Maximum Range
to be zero) of flight, (T). u 2 sin 2 u2
1 R and R max 
0  u sin T  gt 2 g g
2
Range is maximum when sin 2 is maximum
2u sin  2u y
T  Maximum value of sin 2 = 1.
g g
So,   45 (for maximum range)
sx = ux t + 1/2ax t2
x – 0 = u cos t
2u y 3. Projectile Motion from a
x  u cos 
Height
g
vy = uy + ay t
2u 2 cos  sin  It depends on time ‘t’.
x 3.1 Horizontal Direction:
g Its magnitude first decreases
and then becomes zero and (i) Initial velocity ux = u
(2 cos sin = sin 2)
then increases. (ii) Acceleration ax = 0
u2 sin 2
x
g Vertical Direction:
(i) Initial velocity uy = 0
horizontal distance covered is
known as Range (ii) Acceleration ay = -g (downward)
Maximum height attained
by the particle Method 1:
using time of ascent
u sin 
Time of ascent, t =
g
vx = ux + ax t
1
vx  ucos  s y  u y t  at 2
2
It is independent of t and is u sin 
constant  u sin 
g
1 u 2 sin 2 
 g Fig 3.6
2 g2
The path traced by projectile is called its trajectory.
u 2 sin 2  After time t,
H
2g Horizontal displacement x = ut
Maximum height attained 1
Vertical displacement y   gt 2
Method 2: using third 2
Time of ascent (t1) =Time (Negative sign indicates that the direction of vertical
of descent (t2) equation of motion
displacement is downward.)
At topmost point y = 0 v 2y  u 2y  2a y s y
1 x2  x
 0  u sin   gt u 2 sin 2  So y  g 2  t   this is equation of a parabola
H 2 u  u
2g
Above equation is called trajectory equation.

Motion in a Plane & Relative Motion

 113 MOTION IN A PLANE & RELATIVE MOTION

The equations for this type of motion will be:

● Time of flight
2h
Tf 
g
● Horizontal Range
2h
R  ux t  u
g
● Trajectory Equation
1 x2  x Fig 3.8
y g 2  t  
2 u  u
Projectile up an inclined plane
This is equation of parabola
Motion along x-axis Motion along y-axis
● Along vertical direction u y  u sin 
u x  u cos 
v 2y  02  2  h1  g 
a x  g sin  a y  g cos 
v y  2gh1 v x  u cos   g sin t v y  u sin   g cos t
Along horizontal direction: 1 1
x  u cos t  g sin t 2 y  u sin t  g cos t 2
vx  ux  u 2 2
So, velocity
v v 2x  v 2y  u 2  2gh1 4.2 The Motion of a Particle along the
Inclined Plane in Downward
4. Projectile on an Incline
Direction.
4.1 The Motion of a Particle along the
Inclined Plane in Upward Direction.

Fig 3.7
ux  u Fig 3.9

a x  g sin  ux  u
v x  u   g sin   t ax  gsin 
1 v  u   g sin   t
x  ut   g sin   t 2
2 1
uy  0 x  ut   g sin   t 2
2
a y  g cos  uy  0
vy  0 ay  gcos 
y0
vy  0
y0

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MOTION IN A PLANE & RELATIVE MOTION 114

As this being a vector quantity, direction is very

important.

5.1 Velocity of Approach / Separation

 It is the component of relative velocity of one particle
with respect to another, along the line joining them.

 If the separation is decreasing, we say it is velocity of

approach and if separation is increasing, then we say it
Fig 3.10 is velocity of separation.

Projectile down an inclined plane  In one dimension, since relative velocity is along the
Motion along x-axis Motion along y-axis line joining A and B, hence velocity of approach
u x  u cos  u y  u sin  /separation is just equal to magnitude of relative
a x  g sin  a y  g cos  velocity of A with respect to B.
v x  u cos   g sin t v y  u sin   g cos t
1 1 5.2 Velocity of Approach / Separation in
x  u cos t  g sin t 2 y  u sin t  g cos t 2
2 2 Two Dimensions
 It is the component of relative velocity of one particle
2
u with respect to another, along the line joining them.
R
g cos 2 
sin  2     sin 
The maximum range therefore is,  If the separation is decreasing, we say it is velocity of
u2 approach and if separation is increasing, then we say it
 R max  1  sin   is velocity of separation.
g cos 2 

5. Relative Motion 6. River-Boat Problems

Relative is a very general term. In physics we use relative  In river–boat problems we come across the following
very often. For e.g. three terms:

vr  absolute velocity of river.

vbr  velocity of boatman with respect to river and

vb  absolute velocity of boatman.

Fig 3.11 Hence, it is important to note that v br is the velocity
 Case I: If you are stationary and you observe a car 
of boatman with which he steers and vb is the actual
moving on a straight road then you say velocity of car
is 20 m/s which means velocity of car relative to you is velocity of boatman relative to ground.
  
20 m/s or, velocity of car relative to the ground is 20 Further vb  vbr  vr .
m/s.  Now, let us derive some standard results and their
(As you are stationary on the ground.) special cases.
A boatman starts from point A on one bank of a river
 Case II: If you go inside a car and observe you will 
with velocity v br in the direction shown in figure.
find that the car is at rest while the road is moving
River is flowing along positive x–direction with
backwards. You will say: Velocity of car relative to the 
you is 0 m/s Mathematically, velocity of B relative to velocity vr . Width of the river is d.
A is represented as   
   Then, vb  vr  vbr
v BA = v B - v A
Therefore, vbx = vrx + vbrx = vr – vbr sin 

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115 MOTION IN A PLANE & RELATIVE MOTION

and vby = vry + vbry= 0 + vbr cos = vbr cos  Similarly, if vr > vbr, sin  > 1, i.e., no such angle exists.
Practically it can be realized in this manner that it is not
possible to reach at B if river velocity (vr) is too high.

7. Relative Velocity of Rain

with Respect to Man

Fig 3.12 Consider a man walking west with velocity vm , represented
Now, time taken by the boatman to cross the river is: 
by OA . Let the rain be falling vertically downwards with
d d d  
t  or t  ...(i) velocity vr , represented by OB as shown in figure. To find
v by v br cos  v br cos 

Further, displacement along x–axis when he reaches on the the relative velocity of rain with respect to man (i.e., vrm ),

other bank (also called drift) is given by- bring the man at rest by imposing a velocity vm on man
d and apply this velocity on rain also.
x   v r  v br sin   ...(ii)
v br cos  Now the relative velocity of rain with respect to man will be
   
6.1 Condition when the Boatman  
the resultant velocity of v r  OB and  v m  OC , 

crosses the river in shortest interval which will be represented by diagonal OD of rectangle
of Time OBDC.
From eq. (i) we can see that time (t) will be minimum  vrm  v r2  v m2  2v r v m cos 90  v r2  v m2
when  = 0° i.e., the boatman should steer his boat
perpendicular to the river current.

6.2 Condition when the Boatman wants

to reach point B, i.e., at a point just
opposite from where he started
(shortest distance)
In this case, the drift (x) should be zero.
x=0
d
or,  vr  vbr sin   0 Fig 3.13
vbr cos  
If  is the angle which vrm makes with the vertical
or, vr  vbr sin 
direction, then
v v 
or, sin   r or   sin 1  r  OD v m v 
v br  v br  tan    or   tan 1  m 
OB v r  vr 
Hence, to reach point B the boatman should row at an 
Here, angle  is the angle that vrm makes w.r.t vertical.
v 
angle   sin 1  r  upstream from AB.  In the above problem if the man wants to protect
 v br 
himself from the rain, he should hold his umbrella in
d d the direction of relative velocity of rain with respect to
t 
vb v  v 2r
2
br
man i.e., the umbrella should be held making an angle
v
Since sin1 So, if vr > vbr, the boatman can never  (= tan–1 m ) west of vertical.
vr
reach at point B. Because if vr = vbr, sin  = 1 or  =
 SI unit: m/s
90° and it is just impossible to reach at B if  = 90°.
 Dimensional formula: [LT-1]

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MOTION IN A PLANE & RELATIVE MOTION 116

NCERT CORNER
The unit vectors ˆi, ˆj and kˆ are vectors of unit
magnitude and point in the direction of the x-, y-, and z-
(Some important points to remember) axes, respectively in a right-handed coordinate system.

 
1. Scalar quantities are quantities with magnitudes only. 10. A vector A can be expressed as A  A x ˆi  A y ˆj where
Examples are distance, speed, mass and temperature
Ax , A y are its components along x-, and y-axes. If

2. Vector quantities are quantities with magnitude and vector A makes an angle  with the x-axis, then
 
direction both. Examples are displacement, velocity A x  A cos  , A y  A sin  and
and acceleration. They obey special rules of vector
 Ay
algebra. A  A  A2x  A2y , tan  
Ax

3. A vector A multiplied by a real number λ is also a
vector, whose magnitude is λ times the magnitude of 11. Vectors can be conveniently added using analytical
  
the vector A and whose direction is the same or method. If sum of two vectors A and B , that lie in x-y

opposite depending upon whether λ is positive or plane, is R, then: R  R ˆi  R ˆj . where, Rx  Ax  Bx
x y
negative.
and R y  Ay  By
 
4. Two vectors A and B may be added graphically using
12. The position vector of an object in x-y plane is given
head to tail method or parallelogram method.
by r  xiˆ  yjˆ and the displacement from position r to
   
5. Vector addition is commutative: A  B  B  A position r  is given by
  
It also obeys the associative law: r  r  r
     
 
AB C  A BC     x   x  ˆi   y  y  ˆj
 xiˆ  yjˆ
6. A null or zero vector is a vector with zero magnitude.
Since the magnitude is zero, we don’t have to specify 13. If an object undergoes a displacement  r in time t ,
its direction. It has the properties:
  r
A0  A its average velocity is given by v  . The velocity
t

A0  0 of an object at time t is the limiting value of the

0A  0 r dr
average velocity as t tends to zero: v  lim  .
t  0 t dt
  It can be written in unit vector notation as:
7. The subtraction of vector B from A is defined as the
  dx dy dz
sum of A and  B : v  v x ˆi  v y ˆi  v z kˆ where v x  , vy  , vz 
    dt dt dt
A  B  A   B 
When position of an object is plotted on a coordinate

system, v is always tangent to the curve representing
8. A vector A can be resolved into component along two the path of the object.
given vectors a and b lying in the same plane:
    
14. If the velocity of an object changes from v to v ' in time
A  a  b where λ and µ are real numbers.
t , then its average acceleration is given by:
   
9. A unit vector associated with a vector A has  v  v ' v
 a 
magnitude one and is along the vector A : t t
 
The acceleration a at any time t is the limiting value
A 
n̂   of a as t  0 ,
A

Motion in a Plane & Relative Motion

117 MOTION IN A PLANE & RELATIVE MOTION

 
 v dv Hence drift Δx will be
a  lim 
t  0 t dt d

t  ...  i 
In component form, we have: a  a x ˆi  a y ˆj  a z kˆ vsr sin 
x   v r  vsr cos   t ...  ii 
dv x dv y dv
Where, a x  , ay  , az  z  Minimum time of crossing
dt dt dt
d
 t min  And hence
15. Relative motion can be defined as the comparison vsr
between the motions of a single object to the motion of  d 
another object moving with the same velocity. Relative Drift x  v r  
 v sr 
motion can be easily found out with the help of the
concept of relative velocity, relative acceleration or
relative speed

16. The relative velocity of an object A with respect to

object B is the rate of position of the object A with
respect of object B.
 If VA and VB be the velocities of objects A and B
with respect to the ground, then:
(a) The relative velocity of A with respect to B is
VAB = VA – VB
(b) The relative velocity of B with respect to A is
VBA = VA – VB
 Shortest Path: The person should try to swim such
 SI unit: m/s
that the resultant velocity becomes perpendicular to the
 Dimensional formula: [LT-1] river flow.
d
17. Relative Acceleration: The relative acceleration (also  t 
ar) is the acceleration of an object or observer B in the v sr  v 2r
2

rest frame of another object or observer A.

 Acceleration of B relative to A = aB - aA
 SI unit: m/s2
 Dimensional formula: [LT-2]

18. Crossing of River problems:

19. Rain-man umbrella problems

 A person standing/running in a particular direction
would be needed to be protected by properly
directing the axis of the umbrella.
 Here again 3 situations may arise-
 Time of crossing: Component (vr + vsr cos ) will
enable the person to drift along the length of river.

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MOTION IN A PLANE & RELATIVE MOTION 118

Case-I Case-II Case-III

vr sin   vm
v r sin   v m
v r sin   v m 

 vr cos   vrm
v m  v r sin 
v r sin   v m

In this case rain appears

to fall vertically, which
v r sin   v m
tan   v m  vsin  can happen only if the
v r cos  tan   horizontal velocity of
vr cos 
rain and man match.

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119 MOTION IN A PLANE & RELATIVE MOTION

Solved Examples
[NCERT]
dr d
Sol. (a) v  t   
dt dt

3.0tiˆ  2.0t 2 ˆj  5.0kˆ 
Example 1  3.0iˆ  4.0tjˆ
A motorboat is racing towards north at 25 km/h and dv
the water current in that region is 10 km/h in the a t   4.0jˆ
dt
direction of 60° east of south. Find the resultant
a  4.0ms2 along y – direction
velocity of the boat.
[NCERT] (b) At t  1.0s, v  3.0iˆ  4.0ˆj
Sol. The vector vb representing the velocity of the
It's magnitude is v  32  42  5.0ms 1 and
motorboat and the vector vc representing the water
direction is
current are shown in figure in directions specified by
the problem. Using the parallelogram method of  vy  4
  tan 1    tan 1    53 with x-axis.
addition, the resultant R is obtained in the direction v
 x 3
shown in the figure.
Example 3
A particle starts from origin at t = 0 with a velocity
5.0iˆ m / s and moves in x-y plane under action of a
force which produces a constant acceleration of
 
3.0iˆ  2.0ˆj m / s 2
(a) What is the y-coordinate of the particle at the
instant its x-coordinate is 84 m?
(b) What is the speed of the particle at this
time?
[NCERT]
Sol. For r0 = 0, the position of the particle is given by
1
r  t   v 0 t  at 2
2

 5.0it  1 / 2  3.0iˆ  2.0ˆj t 2
ˆ 
We can obtain the magnitude of R using the Law of   5.0t  1.5t 2  ˆi  1.0t 2 ˆj
cosine: x  t   5.0t  1.5t 2
2 2
R  v  v 2v b vc cos120
b c Therefore, y  t   1.0t 2
 252  102  2  25  10  1/ 2   22km / h Given x  t   84m, t  ?
To obtain the direction, we apply the Law of sines
5.0t 1.5t 2  84  t  6s
R v v
 c or, sin   c sin  
At t  6s, y  1.0  6   36.0m
sin  sin  R
dr

10  sin120

10 3
 0.397 Now, the velocity v    5.0  3.0t  ˆi  2.0tjˆ
21.8 2  21.8 dt
  23.4 At t  6s, v  23.0iˆ  12.0jˆ

speed  v  232  12 2  26ms 1

Example 2
The position of a particle is given
Example 4
by r  3.0tiˆ  2.0t 2 ˆj  5.0kˆ where ‘t’ is in seconds
Read each statement below carefully and state with
and the coefficients have the proper units for ‘r’ to be reasons, if it is true or false:
in meters. (a) The magnitude of a vector is always a scalar.
(a) Find v(t) and a(t) of the particle. (b) Each component of a vector is always a scalar.
(b) Find the magnitude and direction of v(t) at t = 1.0 (c) The total path length is always equal to the
s. magnitude of the displacement vector of a particle.
MOTION IN A PLANE & RELATIVE MOTION 120

(d) The average speed of a particle (defined as total Using equation of motion
path length divided by the time taken to cover the v2  u 2  2as
path) is either greater or equal to the magnitude of
Here, v  0, a  g, s  Rmax  100m
average velocity of the particle over the same
2
interval of time.   0   u 2  2  g   s
(e) Three vectors not lying in a plane can never add 1 u2
up to give a null vector. s
2 g

Sol. (a) True, magnitude of the velocity of a body moving Since u  v

in a straight line may be equal to the speed of the 1 v2 1
s   100  50m
body. 2 g 2
(b) False, each component of a vector is always a
vector, not scalar. Example 7
(c) False, total path length can also be more than the The sum and difference of the two vectors are equal
magnitude of displacement vector of a particle. in magnitude i. e. |a + b|=|a – b|. What conclusion do
(d) True, because the total path length is either you draw from this?
greater than or equal to the magnitude of the
displacement vector. Sol. The two vectors are equal in magnitude and are
(e) True, this is because the resultant of two vectors perpendicular to each other.
will not lie in the plane of third vector and hence
cannot cancel its effect to give null vector. Example 8
What will be the net effect on maximum height of a
Example 5 projectile when its angle of projection is changed
The ceiling of a long hall is 25 m high. What is the from 30o to 60o, keeping the same initial velocity of
maximum horizontal distance that a ball thrown with projection?
a speed of 40 m s-1 can go without hitting the ceiling
of the hall?  given sin 67.2  0.9219 Sol. Maximum height H of a projectile is given by the
2 2
equation H  v0 sin  / 2g
Sol. Maximum height hmax  25m ; Horizontal range, R Here, H  sin 2 
=? 2
H1  sin 30  1 4 1
Velocity of projection, v  40ms 1  2
  
H 2  sin 60  4 3 3
v2 sin 2 
We know that h max  or H 2  3H1
2g
The maximum height of the projectile for angle of
25  2  9.8 projection 60o is three times more than the maximum
or sin 2    0.30625 or sin   0.5534
40  40 height at angle of projection 30o
  sin 1  0.5534  33.6
Example 9
v2 sin 2 40  40sin 67.2 If the origin is shifted, which of the two vectors,
Again, R  
g 9.8 position or displacement vectors will change?
1600
or R   0.9219 m  150.5m Sol. The position vector will change as it depends on the
9.8
origin, but the displacement vector will remain
Example 6 unchanged since it is the shortest distance between
A cricketer can throw a ball to a maximum horizontal two points.
distance of 100 m. How much high above the ground
can the cricketer throw the same ball?

Sol. Rmax  100m;

v2 v2 Example 10
Since R max   100 
g g
121 MOTION IN A PLANE & RELATIVE MOTION

If a particle moves from points P (2, 4, 7) to point Q 

 The body starts from the origin, ri  0
(1, 4, 5). What will be the displacement vector?
 1
or, rf  u x tiˆ  u y ˆj  a yt2 j
 2
Sol. P  2iˆ  4jˆ  7kˆ  1
  
or, rf  u x tiˆ   u y ˆj  a y t 2  ˆj
Q  1iˆ  4jˆ  5kˆ  2 
Displacement vector
  
PQ  Q  P Example 14
 
If a position vector is given by, r  2tiˆ  3t 2 ˆj . Prove
  
or, PQ  1iˆ  4ˆj  5kˆ  2iˆ  4ˆj  7kˆ 
 that the acceleration vector is independent of time.
or, PQ  1iˆ  2kˆ

Sol. r  2tiˆ  3t 2 ˆj
Example 11 
 dr
What will be the effect on the horizontal range of a Velocity vector  v  
dt
projectile when its initial velocity is doubled keeping  ˆ ˆ
or v  2i  6tj
the angle of projection same?

 dv
Acceleration vector  a  
u 2 sin 2 dt
Sol. R 
g ˆ ˆ
or, a  0i  6 j
So, when the initial velocity is doubled, the range will 
or, a  6jˆ
become four times.
Since the acceleration vector does not contain any
time variable ‘t’.
Example 12
Hence it is independent of time.
A stone dropped from the window of a stationary
railway carriage takes 2 seconds to reach the ground.
Example 15
At what time the stone will reach the ground when
A jet airplane traveling at the speed of 500 km h–1
the carriage is moving with
ejects its products of combustion at the speed of 1500
(a) the constant velocity of 80 km/h,
km h–1 relative to the jet plane. What is the speed of
(b) constant acceleration of 2 ms-2?
the latter with respect to an observer on the ground?
[NCERT]
Sol. The time taken by the freely falling stone to reach the
ground is given by: Sol. Speed of the jet airplane, v jet  500 km/ h

2h Relative speed of its products of combustion with

t
g respect to the plane, vsmoke  1500km/ h
In both cases, the stone will fall through the same Speed of its products of combustion with respect to

height as it is falling when the railway carriage is the ground  vsmoke
stationary. Hence the stone will reach the ground after
Now, vsmoke  vsmoke  v jet
2 seconds.
 1500  500
Example 13  1000 km / h
A body starts form the origin with initial velocity The negative sign indicates that the direction of its
 products of combustion is opposite to the direction of
u  u ˆi  u ˆj Suppose the acceleration vector be
x y
 motion of the jet airplane.
a  a y ˆj . Find out the position vector of the body
after time 't'.

Sol. Position vector of the particle after time ‘t’,

   1 2
rf  ri  ut  at
2
MOTION IN A PLANE & RELATIVE MOTION 122

Example 16  i  v AB  v A  v B  10    12   22m / s

A man can swim with a speed of 4.0 km/h in still
 ii  v BA  v B  v A   12   10   22m / s
water. How long will he take to cross a river 1.0 km
wide if the river flows steadily at 3.0 km/h and he
Example 19
makes his strokes normal to the river current? How
A particle A is moving with a speed of 20 m/s
far down the river does he go when he reaches the
towards right and another particle B is moving at a
other bank?
speed of 5 m/s towards right. Find their velocity of
[NCERT]
 1  1
approach.
Sol. Here, vm  4kmh , vr  3kmh
OA  1km
Let t = time taken by man to reach the other bank
OA 1 VA  20, VB  5
then t    0.25h Sol.
vm 4
VBA  VA  VB
Distance AB  vr  t  3 0.25  0.75km 20   5   15m / s
Since separation is decreasing hence
Vapp  VAB  15m/ s

Example 20
A particle A is moving with a speed of 10 m/s
towards right, particle B is moving at a speed of 10
m/s towards right and another particle C is moving at
speed of 10 m/s towards left. The separation between
A and B is 100 m. Find the time interval between C
Example 17
meeting B and C meeting A.
An object A is moving with 5 m/s and B is moving
with 20 m/s in the same direction.
(Positive x-axis)
(i) Find velocity of B with respect to A
(ii) Find velocity of A with respect to B

Sol.  i  vB  20 m / s vA  5m / s;

v BA  v B  v A  15 m / s
 ii  v B  20 m / s, v A  5 m / s ;
v BA  v A  v B  15 m / s
separation between A and C
Note : v BA   v AB Sol. t
Vapp of A and C

Example 18
100
  5sec
Two objects A and B are moving towards each other 10   10
with velocities 10 m/s and 12 m/s respectively as
shown. Example 21
A and B are thrown vertically upward with velocity, 5
m/s and 10 m/s respectively (g = 10 m/s2). Find
separation between them after one second
(i) Find the velocity of A with respect to B.
(ii) Find the velocity of B with respect to A.

Sol. vA  10, vB  12

123 MOTION IN A PLANE & RELATIVE MOTION

  1 2
s  ut  a BL t
Sol. 2
1 2u
0  uT   g  a  T 2  T 
2   a
g
 b  v2  u 2  2as
0  u 2  2  g  a  H
u2
H
2 g  a 
1
SA  ut  gt 2
2
Example 23
1
 5t   10  t 2 A man moving with 5 m/s observes rain falling
2
vertically at the rate of 10 m/s. Find the speed and
 5  1  5 12 direction of the rain with respect to ground.
 55  0
1 1
SB  ut  gt 2  10  1   10  12  10  5  5
2 2
SB  SA  separation = 5 m
Alter:

Sol.

  
a BA  a B  a A   10    10   0
  
Also v BA  v B  v A  10  5  5m / s
 
 sBA  in1sec   v BA  t  5  1  5m
 Distance between A and B after 1 sec = 5 m.

Example 22
A lift is moving up with acceleration a. A person v RM  10m / s, v M  5m / s
inside the lift throws the ball upwards with a velocity   
v RM  v Ru  v M
u relative to hand.   
(a) What is the time of flight of the ball  v Ru  v RM  v M

(b) What is the maximum height reached by the ball  vR  5 5
in the lift? 1 1
tan   ,   tan 1
2 2
Example 24
50 m long trains are crossing each other in opposite
direction with velocity of 10 m/s and 15 m/s.
respectively then time-taken by trains to cross each
other will be
(a) 2 sec
(b) 4 sec
(c) 6 sec
   (d) 8 sec
Sol.  a aBL  aB  aL  g  a Ans. (b)
MOTION IN A PLANE & RELATIVE MOTION 124

Sol. Total length to cross L = 50 + 50 = 100m Ans. (c)

Relative velocity (w.r.t other train) Sol.
v = 15 – (-10) = 25 m/s
L 100
t   4s
v 25

5
Example 25 Speed of bullet  72 
18
Thief’s car is moving with a speed of 10 m/s. A
police van chasing this cart with a speed of 5 m/s fires  20m / s
a bullet at the thief’s car with muzzle velocity 72 Total bullet speed  20  speed of van
km/h. Find the speed with which the bullet will hit the  20  5
car  25m / s
(a) 10 m/s The bullet will hit the thief’s car with
(b) 20 m/s  25  10  15m / s
(c) 15 m/s
(d) 25 m/s