📚

No Knowledge Points Yet

Knowledge points for this tag are currently being developed.

Browse Problems

39 problems tagged with relative motion

Mechanics › Kinematics
Mechanics › Kinematics
Mechanics › Kinematics
Mechanics › Kinematics
Mechanics › Kinematics
Mechanics › Kinematics
Mechanics › Kinematics
Mechanics › Kinematics
Mechanics › Kinematics

P0325

Intermediate Mechanics › Kinematics

Relative Velocity Calculation for Two Boats

Boat A travels east at a speed of $v_A = 30$ km/h. Boat B travels due north at a speed of $v_B = 45$ km/h.

  1. Find the speed of Boat B as observed by a person on Boat A.
  2. Find the direction of Boat B as observed by a person on Boat A.
relative motion

P0239

Beginner Mechanics › Kinematics

Resultant Velocity of a Boat in a Current

A river current flows from west to east at 3.0 m/s. A boat is heading in a direction 30° east of north with a speed of 2.0 m/s relative to the water.

Determine the velocity (magnitude and direction) of the boat as observed by a person on the shore.
relative motion

P0238

Beginner Mechanics › Kinematics

Shortest Time for Ferry to Cross River

Consider a ferry with a speed of 20 m/s in still water, crossing a 600 m wide river. The speed of the river current is 17.32 m/s (as found in the previous problem).

  1. In what direction should the ferry head to cross the river in the shortest time?
  2. What is the length of the ferry's path across the river for this shortest-time crossing?
relative motion

P0283

Intermediate Mechanics › Kinematics

Relative Motion Analysis of Two Cars

Car A starts at position $x_{A0}$ with a constant velocity $v_A$. Car B starts at the origin with an initial velocity $v_{B0}$ and a constant negative acceleration $a_B$. Assume $v_{B0} > v_A > 0$ and $x_{A0} > 0$.

  1. What must $a_B$ be such that the cars are at the same position at time $t_1 > 0$?
  2. For this acceleration, what is the other time $t_2$ when the cars are at the same position?
  3. Find the critical magnitude of acceleration, $A_{crit} = |a_B|_{crit}$, for which the cars meet only once.
  4. For $A = |a_B|$, how many times do the cars meet if $A > A_{crit}$ or if $A < A_{crit}$?
linear motion relative motion

P0331

Advanced Mechanics › Kinematics

Kinematics of a Point on a Purely Rolling Ring

A rigid ring with radius $R$ undergoes pure rolling on a rigid horizontal surface. The center of the ring moves forward horizontally with a constant velocity $v_0$. Consider a point P on the ring that is at the same height as the center.

  1. Find the instantaneous velocity of point P.
  2. Find the tangential acceleration of point P.
  3. Find the normal acceleration of point P.
relative motion Circular Motion rotational motion

P0293

Intermediate Mechanics › Kinematics

Collision Condition for Two Particles

Particle A moves along the line $y=d$ with a constant velocity $\vec{v}$ of magnitude $v$ parallel to the x-axis. At the instant particle A passes the y-axis, particle B leaves the origin with zero initial speed and a constant acceleration $\vec{a}$ of magnitude $a$. The angle $\theta$ is between the acceleration vector $\vec{a}$ and the positive direction of the y-axis.

What angle $\theta$ between $\vec{a}$ and the positive direction of the y-axis would result in a collision?
relative motion

P0335

Expert Mechanics › Kinematics

Fox's Acceleration at Closest Approach to Rabbit

A rabbit runs along a straight line at a constant speed of $v_r = 5$ m/s. At a certain moment, a fox spots the rabbit and begins to chase it. The fox maintains a constant speed of $v_f = 4$ m/s, and its velocity vector at any instant points directly towards the rabbit. The distance between them initially decreases and then increases. The minimum distance between the fox and the rabbit is $d_{min} = 30$ m.

Find the acceleration of the fox at the instant it is closest to the rabbit.
Circular Motion relative motion

P0301

Intermediate Mechanics › Kinematics

Relative Velocity and Separation of Ships

Two ships, A and B, leave port at the same time. Ship A travels northwest at 24 knots, and ship B travels at 28 knots in a direction 40° west of south. (1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour).

  1. What is the magnitude of the velocity of ship A relative to B?
  2. What is the direction of the velocity of ship A relative to B?
  3. After what time will the ships be 160 nautical miles apart?
  4. What will be the bearing of B relative to A at that time?
relative motion

P0261

Intermediate Mechanics › Kinematics

Collecting Rainwater With and Without Wind

During a calm rain, raindrops fall vertically to the ground with a speed of 10 m/s. A cylindrical measuring container with a cross-sectional area of 80 cm² is placed on the ground. After 30 min, the water level of the collected rainwater in the container is 1 cm high. Now, due to wind, the raindrops fall at an angle of $30^{\circ}$ to the vertical.

If the speed of the raindrops remains 10 m/s, how much time is needed for the same container to collect the same amount of rainwater (to a height of 1 cm)?
relative motion

P0717

Expert Mechanics › Kinematics

Minimum drift

A river of width $D$ flows with a constant velocity $\vec{u}$ to the East (positive $x$). A boat launches from the South bank with a speed $v$ relative to the water. The boatman can steer the boat at any angle $\theta$ relative to the line perpendicular to the bank (i.e., $\theta = 0^\circ$ is straight North, $\theta > 0$ is upstream/West).

  1. Determine the steering angle $\theta$ that minimizes the distance the boat drifts downstream (East) for two cases: The boat is faster than the current ($v > u$), or slower than the current ($v < u$).
  2. How does the optimal angle $\theta$ change as the boat's speed $v$ increases from 0 to infinity?
  3. A boat wants to cross the river along a straight line path making an angle $\alpha$ with the downstream bank (e.g., drifting East at $30^\circ$). What is the **minimum speed** $v$ the boat needs to maintain this path?
  4. If the boat has speed $v < u$, what is the locus of all reachable points on the opposite bank?
  5. What is the minimum possible time to cross the river $t_{min\_time}$ when $v < u$?
relative motion

Practice by Difficulty

Practice all Relative Motion problems by difficulty level

Problem Sets

No problem sets available for Relative Motion.