RELATIVE VELOCITY (A/L Combined Mathematics)

1. A van of width b is moving with uniform velocity u along a straight road parallel to the pavement almost touching
it. A boy steps into the road from the pavement at a distant d in front of the van and walks with uniform velocity
v (<u sec) in the direction which makes an acute angle with the direction of motion of the van. If the boy just
escapes without being hit by the van, show that bu = (b cos + d sin )v. (2013 Part A)
2. A boy running due south along a straight road with speed u kmh -1, feels a wind blowing due west. When he is
running due north along a straight road with the same speed. He feels the wind blowing due south-west. Draw the
velocity triangles of relative velocities of the motions of the wind in the same figure. Hence, find the true speed and
the direction of the wind. (2012 Part A)
3. The top most points A, B and C of three lamp-posts lie in a horizontal plane at the vertices of an equilateral triangle
of side a. A wind blows in direction of

AC

at a steady speed u. A bird, whose speed relative to the wind is v(>u),

flies from A to B along AB and then from B to C along BC.

Draw the velocity triangles of relative velocities for both parts of the journey in the same figure. Hence, show that
the total time taken for the journey from A to C through B is

4a
u+ 4 v2 3u 2

. (2011)

^
4. A man is at the corner A of a fixed rhombus ABCD with side d metres and B A D=

(0<< 2 )

, which is in a

river. The sides AB and CD are parallel to the straight parallel banks of the river. The man can swim at a maximum

( 0< < 1 )

speed of Vms-1, relative to the water. The river flows at a constant velocity V ms -1
ground in the direction of

relative to the

AB . The man starts from A and swim around the course ABCDA at maximum speed.

Draw velocity triangles of relative velocities for the sides BC and DA in the same diagram.
Hence, show that the time taken by the man to swim along the sides BC and DA is

2 d 12 sin2
v ( 12 )

seconds.

Deduce the total time taken by the man to swim around the complete course. (2011 Old)
5. A man can swim with speed u in still water. A river of width d flows with speed v (<u) relative to the ground. The
man is at point P on one bank of the river and wishes to swim to a point Q upstream on the other bank of the river
and swim back to the point P. If the banks are straight and parallel to each other, and PQ makes an angle , (0<

) with upstream, drawing the velocity triangles of relative velocities on the same diagram or otherwise, show

that the time taken by the man to swim to the point Q and then back to the point P is

2 d u 2 cosec 2 v 2
.
u2v2

Deduce that,
(i) There is no change in the total time taken if the point Q is downstream of the point P and PQ makes an angle , (0<

) with downstream.

(ii) The total time is minimum when the point Q is directly opposite to the point P on the other bank. (2010)
6. A submarine which travels at speed u kmh -1sights a ship at distant d km in a direction
sea. The ship is travelling due North with velocity vkmh -1, where u<v<2u.

300

west of south, in the

By considering the motion of the submarine relative to the ship, show that, in order to intercept the ship the
submarine may proceed in one of two directions, and find the angle between these two directions.
Show further that the corresponding times differ by

d 4 u2v2
v2 u2

hours. (2009)

7. A helicopter, whose speed relative to the wind is v kmh-1 flies around a square track ABCD of side a km, in the
sense indicated by the order of the letters. A wind blows with velocity w(<v)kmh-1 in a direction making an acute
angle with the side AB. Assuming that no time is lost in turning round the corners of the track and drawing
velocity triangles, show that the sum of the time taken from A to B and the time taken from C to D is

2 a v 2w2 sin2
v 2w 2
which

hours. Hence, calculate the total time T taken for one complete path, and find the value of
makes

maximum.

(2008)

(P.T.O.)

8. A motor boat sights a ship travelling due north with constant velocity U kmh-1. The coordinates of the ship at the
time of sighting are (6d, 2d), with respect to Cartesian axes OX, OY in the east and north directions respectively,
where the origin O is taken in the boat and distances are measured in kilometers. The boat immediately begins to
move with constant velocity V kmh-1, in a direction making an acute angle north of east, so as to intercept the ship.
Given that =

tan 1

( 34 )

, sketch the path of the boat relative to the ship.

Hence, find the value of V, in terms of U, and show that the time taken for the interception is

5d
2u

hours. (2007)

9. A river, with two straight parallel banks, d, distance apart flows with uniform speed U ms-1. A boat that moves with
velocity 2U ms-1 relative to the water needs to travel in a straight track from a point A on one bank to a point B on
the other bank and return to A.

AB

makes an acute angle with the upstream and the time taken from A to B is

twice the that of from B to A. By drawing the velocity triangles for the motions of A to B and its return, show that,
(i).

sin

5
8

, and

(ii) For the motion from A to B, the velocity of the boat, relative to the banks, is U

3
2 .

Deduce the total time taken for the two travels. (2006)
10. A ship travels with uniform velocity with components u and v to the east and north respectively, relative to the
water. When the ship is d, distance away to the north from a submarine, a torpedo is lighted from the submarine,
with an aim to destroy the ship. Assuming that the torpedo is travelling with the speed w, relative to the water and if
the torpedo hits the ship, then show that w>u and find the time taken for the torpedo to move from the submarine to
the ship. (2005)
11. A car of w width is travelling uniformly very close and parallel to the pavement, on a straight road. A man on the
pavement l metres ahead of the car starts to cross the road uniformly. If the velocity of the car and the man relative
to the road are v and u respectively, show that if u>v sin , the man can cross the road safely. Where =

tan 1

( wl )

. If u = v sin , the man can cross the road just safely by taking the direction

direction of the motion of the car, relative to the road. (2004)

to the

12. A ship sailing with uniform velocity V in the direction of the north observes a steam boat B approaching it from
the direction degrees East of North. At the same instant, the ship also observes another steam boat C approaching
it from the direction degrees West of South. Each of the boats B and C moves with uniform speed U in still water,
and the boat B steers in the direction degrees West of South while the boat C steers in the direction degrees East

00

of North. If

<<<<

900 , draw, in the same diagram, the velocity triangle for A and B and the

velocity triangle for A and C.

Using the diagram, show that

U
sin

i)
ii)

V
sin ( )

V
sin ( )

the velocity of B relative to C of magnitude 2

U 2V 2 sin2

(2003)

13. A motorcyclist is riding due East with constant speed V along a straight level road, and to him a wind blowing
with constant velocity appears to blow from the south. When the cyclist doubles his speed, without change of
direction, the wind appears to blow from the south-east. Draw velocity triangles for the two situations and find the
actual velocity of the wind, in magnitude and direction. (2002)
14. A motor-boat whose speed is u km
1

h1 is to intercept a ship which moves with constant velocity v (< u) km

in the North-West direction. Initially the ship is located at a distance d km North of the motor-boat. Draw a

velocity triangle and find the direction in which the motor-boat should move in order to intercept the ship. Show that
the interception takes place after a time

2 d [ 2 u2v 2 +v ]
2 ( u2v 2 )

(2001)

(P.T.O.)

15. Water in a straight river of breadth d flows with uniform velocity u. A man capable of swimming at a speed v
relative to the water swims so that he moves right across the river perpendicular to the bank. Find the time T taken
by the man to cross the river. Show that the time he takes to swim a distance d parallel to the bank, upstream and
back to the starting place is

2 vT
v 2u2

. Why should v be greater than u? (2000)

16.A motorcyclist is moving with a constant velocity v on a straight flat road parallel to one of its edges, maintaining
a constant distance a from this edge. A child steps on to the road from the same edge at a distance b in front of the
motorcycle and walks to the other side of the road with a constant velocity u ( < v) at an angle to the road. Show
that if

va
a 2+ b2

u>

, the child can safely cross the road in front of the motorcycle. (1999)

17.An airliner capable of flying with velocity v kmh-1on a calm weather can fly non-stop a distance R km. when there
is a storm due north at w kmh-1, the airliner travels non-stop from a city A to another city B, which is situated angle
west from north of A and just comes back. Show that the distance travelled by the airliner in this journey is

R ( v 2w2 )
v v w sin
2

(1993)

18.A smugglers boat q with a maximum speed of u knots is at position A. Information is received that a patrol boat P
at distance a nautical miles due south of A is travelling at a constant velocity v (>u) knots due north. If P does not

change its course, find the direction in which q should steer to keep as far as possible out of the way of P. In this
case what is their closest distance apart. On another occasion the patrol boat P travelling with velocity v due north
observes the smugglers boat Q at a distance b nautical miles west, travelling with velocity

direction making an angle

cos1

( uv )

v 2u2

knots in the

south of east. Show that the boat Q actually moves with its maximum

speed u and find its direction of motion. Now if Q doesnt change its course show that in order to intercept it P
should steer in the direction making an angle

sin1

u2
v2

( )

north of west and that interception takes place after a

bv
time

v 2u2 ( u+ u2 +v 2 )

hours.

(1992)

19.An aero plane carries fuel, sufficient5 for T hours of flight. Its speed in calm weather is u kmh -1. Assuming that the
aero plane spends negligible time in changing its course, show that its range of action (out and back) in a direction
east of north, when there is a wind blowing at a speed v (<u) kmph -1 in north to south direction is
R=

T
2

( u 2v 2 )

u2v2 sin2 .For what value of is the range R a maximum? In what bearing should the aero plane

be navigated in the outward and return flights, in order to achieve the maximum range? (1991)
20.To the crew of a battle ship A travelling due north at 16 nautical miles per hour an enemy ship B, at a distance 8
nautical miles on the west appears to be sailing in a course

300 east of south. The actual velocity of B is

600

east of south.
i. Find the magnitude of the actual velocity of B
ii. Find the velocity of B relative to A.
iii. Find the bearing of A from B when they closest each other.
iv. If the maximum possible range of a gun in the ship A can achieve is 7 nautical miles. Show that the ship B
is in danger over a time

5 3
2

minutes. (1990)

21.A battle ship is sailing along a straight course. On a certain day it sights an enemy vessel at a distance d km east
of it. The enemy vessel is sailing north at a constant speed u kmh -1. The maximum speed the battle ship can attain is
v kmh-1(v<u) and the maximum range its guns can achieve is R km. Show that if R <

d 2 2
u v , the vessel is out
u

of danger zone. (1988)

(P.T.O.)

22.Two aircrafts A and B fly at the same heights from the grounds with uniform speeds of u and v respectively, where v
>u

. A flies due north and at a certain instant, B is at a distance d east of A. From the radar screen of A, B

seems to approach on A collision course with A. Find the velocity of B. In order to avoid the collision, A changes its
course without changing its velocity and the altitude, show that
i. A can fly any direction

ii. The speed of B relative to A is minimum when the course of A is directed

iii. Course of A should be directed

2 cos1

( uv )]

cos1

( uv )

west of north.

west of north if b is to be as far away as possible.

( ii ) and ( iii ) find shortest distance between A and B. (1987)

iv. For the cases

23.a). A,B,C,D are four airports situated at the vertices of a square of side a. The velocity of an airplane in still air is
u. When a steady wind blows along AB with velocity v (<u), find the time taken by the airplane to fly non stop
along the path ABCDA.
. b). P, Q are two landing stages on a bank of a river which steadily flows. A steam boat takes a time t 1 to travel from
P to Q and t2(>t1) from Q to P. Show that the time taken by a log to move from P to Q is

2t 1 t 2
t 1t 2

. (1986)

24.Three airports A,B and C are situated around another airport O, where OA=OB=OC=a and AOB=BOC=COA.
On a calm day when there is no wind, an aero plane can fly with maximum velocity u, if a continuous wind blows at
the speed v (v<u) to the direction OA, show that the minimum time taken by the aero plane to fly on a path
OAOBOCO is 2a

( u+ 4 u 23 v 2 )
2

u v

. (1984)

25.The travelling velocity of an aero plane is v. On a calm day the aero plane can fly non-stop a maximum distance d
without refilling fuel. On a certain day when there is a steady air blowing from north at a uniform speed u, the aero
plane sets off from a port O and flies non-stop to a point R which is situated at an angle east of north and comes

d ( 1k 2 )
back to O. Show that the maximum possible distance of R is

2 ( 1k 2 sin2 )

ratio of fuel consumed in up an down journeys when i). = 0 ii). =

26.A ship is sailing at a speed of

144
13

1
2

, where k =

u
v . Find also the

iii). = . (1983)

kmh-1 due north. At a certain moment a torpedo is fired from a point 13km

due east of the ship towards in front of the ship. The torpedo moves with uniform velocity. After 20 min of the motion
the shortest distance between the ship and the torpedo is 5 km. What is the velocity of the torpedo relative to the
ship? Show that the velocity of the torpedo is

this velocity in a direction of an angle

cos1

540
13

( 154 )

kmh-1 and that in order to hit the ship it should be fired with

west of north. (1982)

27. An aero plane flies on straight route from A to b and B to A. In a calm weather, its speed is u, the time elapsing for
these two journey is T. On a certain day the velocity of wind is along a direction inclined to AB. Show that in the
journeys outward from A and back to A, the aero plane must be navigated in directions

sin 1

( v sinu )

inclined

to AB. Prove that the time elapsing for the two journeys is

TU ( u2 v 2 sin 2 )
u2 v 2

. If the whole journey of aero

plane is a horizontal square, and the direction of the wind is parallel to one of the diagonals, then find the time taken
for this journey. (1980)
28. A river flows between two parallel banks with uniform velocity u. A man can row a boat with velocity v relative to
water. Find the direction, the boat to be steered to cross the river in the shortest possible route when the breadth of
the river is a, show that the length of the route is a if v > u and

au
v

if v < u. (1979)

29. Two buses of width a travels in the same straight line with same velocity V and distance b apart. Show that the
minimum velocity required for a cyclist to safely cross through the buses is ,

aV
b 2+ a2

W.M.J.P.Wanigasekera (B.Sc./PG Dip/M.Sc.)

30. X and Y are two opposite points of a river of width b that flows with a velocity w and its banks are straight and
parallel. A man who can swim with speed v(<w) in still water swims upstream from the point X in a direction with
the bank. Find the velocity of the man with respect to the bank of the river. The man swim across the river to a point
Z on the other side and then he runs to the point Y along the bank with velocity u. If he takes time T to reach Y from
X, show that T=b/uv[(u+w)cosec vcot)]. If the man swims upstream with an angle of

cos1 v /(u+w) , show

that he can reach Y in a minimum time.

o

31 A, B and C are three points in an isosceles triangle of which angle CAB= 90

. A and C are at one bank of a

river and B is at the other bank right opposite to A. A man who can swim with velocity u relative to water , swim to
B and C and return in time t1 and t2 respectively. If the water flows with velocity v show that

t1
t2

u2 v 2
u

where (u > v).

32. A battle ship sailing along a straight course with a uniform velocity. At a certain time it sights an enemy vessel at
a distance a east of it. The enemy vessel is sailing north at a constant velocity v. The maximum velocity the battle
ship can attain is u(<v) and the maximum range its guns can achieve is b. Using the principle of relative motion
show that , if b2v2<a2(v2-u2), the vessel is out of danger zone.
33. A motor vehicle of width a has the uniform velocity u. When it moves in a straight line a man starts crossing the
road at a point x distance ahead of it. Show that the minimum uniform velocity that he can safely cross is given by
au/

a2 + x 2

34. When a particle A at a point P with position vector ai+3j+2k, starts moving with uniform velocity vector i j + k ,
at the same time another particle B at a point Q with position vector 7i-2j+4k, also starts moving with uniform
velocity vector -2i+j+4k. Find the velocity vector and position vector of A relative to B, after time t. Find also the
distance between A and B at this time. If it is minimum when t=2, prove that, a=-19/3.
35. A man rides a bicycle with velocity u. When his velocity is uj, he feels that a wind blows with velocity

V1/4(i-

j), where i and j are unit vectors to the directions of east and north respectively. When the velocity of the man

is u/4(-

i+j), the velocity of the wind relative to the man is v2i. Find v1 and v2 and show that the real velocity of

the wind is u/4(

3i

+j).

36. A motor-boat which can attain a maximum velocity u km h-1 , is to intercept a ship which sails with the constant
speed

v ( <u

) km h-1 in the North-West direction. Initially the ship is located south of motor boat. If the

motor boat moves at its maximum velocity, find the direction in which it should move in order to intercept the ship,
using a velocity triangle.
37. A man at a point A on the bank of a river wishes to reach a point B higher up on the opposite bank. Assuming that
the river flows at the same velocity everywhere between its straight parallel banks, how should the man point a boat
so that he may row straight from A to B?
If he exerts himself uniformly in rowing, and keeps his boat pointed in a fixed direction parallel to AB until he
reaches the opposite bank at a point C, and then rows on by the bank till he reaches B, show that the total time taken
is the same as if he had rowed a distance AB against the stream.
38. To a man walking due east at a constant speed the wind appears to blow from a direction 0 north of east. When
he walks towards north at the same speed the wind appears to blow from a direction 0 north of east. If the wind

1+tan

0
actually blows fro a direction north of east, show that tan =
.

tan

39. Position vectors of three ships from a light house and their velocities are given in the following chart. If they are
sailing with constant velocities show that at a certain time two of them will be collided. Then find the time taken for
that collision and the distance from the other ship to the positions of the two ships that collide.
Position vector 2i + 6j 6i + 9j
Velocity vector 5i + 4j 4i + 3j
Time 12.00 12.30 1.00

11i + 6j
2i + 7j

40. An aero plane that can fly with velocity v km/h in still air can fly R km continuously. If the plane flies from city A
to city B which is to the west from north and returns without any stops in a cyclone that blows with the velocity w
to the north. Show that the duration of the journey is
W.M.J.P.Wanigasekera (B.Sc./PG Dip/M.Sc.)

R V 2W 2 sin 2
.
V 2W 2