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​ ( )
a+b
ab
30. (i) ​ _____
1 ab
 ​  ​ t (ii) __ ( )
​   ​ ​ _____
2 a+b
​   ​  ​ t2 (iii) 31. (i) 5 ms–1 (ii) 7.5 m

32. (i) 2.28 s (ii) Never 33. 13.65 ms–1 34. 0.14 s
x0 t0
35. Both hit the ground with the same speed 36. 14.7 m 37. t = ___
​   ​ + __
​   ​
gt0 2

H + h ____
38. u = ​ _____​ ​÷2gH ​ 39. 80 m 40.
2H

41.

__
42. 43. 50 ​÷2 ​ ms–1 44. 1.26 × 103 ms–2

1
45. 14.7 ms–1, 19.6 m 46. 2 ms–1 47. ​ __ ​ m 48. u + kx
2
5
49. t = 5 ln ​ __()
​   ​  ​
4
t2
50. (i) v = __
2
t3
​   ​ (ii) x = __
​   ​ 51. 23.33 s
6
v0
52. v = __________
​  _________
    ​
​÷2v0 kt + 1 ​
2
__
a2 a ​÷5 ​ 4
53. (i) v = ___
​   ​ t (ii) ·v Ò = ____
​   ​ 54. (i) x = ___
​   ​ t5/2 (ii) 25 s
2 2 15

Worksheet 1
1. (d) 2. (d) 3. (c) 4. (c) 5. (b) 6. (b) 7. (d) 8. (c) 9. (a)
10. (a) 11. (b) 12. (a) 13. (b) 14. (c) 15. (d) 16. (b) 17. (a) 18. (b)
19. (c) 20. (d) 21. (c) 22. (c) 23. (d) 24. (d) 25. (a) 26. (a) 27. (a)
28. (b) 29. (d) 30. (c) 31. (c) 32. (b) 33. (c) 34. (a) 35. (c) 36. (b)
37. (a) 38. (c) 39. (d) 40. (d) 41. (b) 42. (a) 43. (c) 44. (c) 45. (c)
46. (b)

5.52
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Worksheet 2
1. (a,b) 2. (a,d) 3. (a,b) 4. (b) 5. (b,c,d) 6. (a,c,d) 7. (a,c) 8. (c) 9. (a,b,c,d)
10. (a,c,d) 11. (b,d) 12. (b,c) 13. (d) 14. (a,c,d) 15. (a,b,d) 16. (a,c)

Worksheet 3
3v0 (v1 + v2)
1. vav = ​ ___________
  
    ​
4v0 + v1 + v2
2. (i) x = 0, 8.43 m, (ii) – 56 ms–2, (iii) Avg. velocity = – 16 ms–1; Avg. speed = 20.21 ms–1

3. 70 ms–1 4. (i) (ii) t = 4 + 5 ln 5  12 s.

5. x0 = 400 m 6.

7.    (i) 500 m (ii) 375 m 8.

9. (i) 17.4 s (ii) 297.7 m 10. 73.2 m

11. Balls are at a respectively height of 20 m, 30 m, 30 m and 20 m.

5h
12. ​ ___ ​ 13. (i) (ii) t = 10 s, 100 m
3

14. 14 ms–1, 250 s 15. 2 minute

16. (i) (ii) (iii) 12 m.

b c2 – b2
17. t = __
​  2 ​; dmin = ​ ______
2
 ​ where a = (u2 + v2 – 2uv cos a); b = (v – u cos a) c.
a a

5.53
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C h apter 6

Motion in Two Dimensions

and Projectile
‘‘As a jumper, I try to defy gravity as long as I can. But no matter how far I jump,
I’ll always hit the earth eventually”.
— Greg Rutherford

1. INTRODUCTION
When a particle moves in a plane, we need two coordinates
(x, y) to specify its position. Such a motion is known as
two-dimensional (2D) motion. A ball thrown at an angle to
horizontal is the most practical example of such a motion.
We will take up this projectile motion later in this chapter.
Before that, we will again define position, distance, displace-
ment, speed, velocity and acceleration in the most general
form so as to help us understand 2D or 3D motion.

2. POSITION VECTOR, DISPLACEMENT However, the actual length of the path travelled is known
AND DISTANCE as the distance, and it may have different values for differ-
ent paths taken from P1 to P2. Distance is a scalar with no
A vector joining the origin of the coordinate system to reference to direction.
the position of a particle (P) If a particle completes one revolution on a circle, its
is known
​_›
as the position vec- displacement is zero, though distance travelled is equal to
tor (​r ​) of the the particle. If the circumference.
coordinates of P are (x, y, z), its ​___› ​___› ​___›
position vector is written as If Dr
​ 1​, Dr
​ 2​, Dr
​ 3​, ... are successive displacements of a body
_​ _› _​ __› _​ __› _​ __›
_ ​___›
​› then, its resultant displacement is Dr​ ​ = Dr ​ 1​ + Dr
​ 2​ + Dr
​ 3​ + ....
​r ​ = OP​
​ = xî + yĵ + zk̂
When position vector of a
particle changes, we say that it is in motion.
3. SPEED AND VELOCITY
Average speed is defined as
If the particle moves from position P1 to position P2 (see
the figure), then its displacement will be defined as the vec- Ds Distance travelled

tor joining its initial position (P1) to its final position (P2). ·vÒ = ___
​  ​ = ​ _______________   
  
 ​
Dt Time taken
Displacement vector is ds
​____› ​____› ​____›
Instantaneous speed is v = __ ​  ​.
dt
​P1P2​ = OP ​ 2​ – OP ​ 1​
​__› _​ _› _​ _› Speed has no reference to direction, and while quoting
fi ​Dr​ = r​ 2​ – r​ 1​ speed, we just tell how fast a body is moving.
= ​( x2î + y2  ĵ + z2k̂)​ – ​( x1î + y1ĵ + z1k̂)​ Velocity is a vector and is defined as the rate of change
of the position vector of a particle.
= (x2 – x1) î + (y2 – y1)ĵ + (z2 – z1)k̂
Average velocity is defined as
Note that displacement does not depend on the path. ​__› ​__› ​__›
_
​› ​ r​ r​______
D
___ 2​ – r ​ 1​ ____________
Displacement
Had the particle moved from P1 to P2 along any other path, ·​v Ò
​ = ​  ​ = ​  ​ = ​   ​
  
Dt Dt Time
the displacement vector would have remained unchanged.
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6.2 Mechanics I

Direction of average velocity is along (ii) Instantaneous speed is the magnitude of instantaneous
the displacement vector. velocity but average speed ≥ |​ average velocity |​.
Instantaneous velocity is dx dy dz
(iii) Components of velocity are vx = ___
​  ​, vy = ___
​  ​, vz = __
​  ​.
_
​› dt dt dt
​_›
d ​r ​ dx dy dz
​v ​ = ___
​  ​ = ___
​  ​  + ___
​  ​  + __
​  ​  If z coordinate of a particle is not changing, then
dt dt dt dt vz = 0 and it is moving in the xy plane.
Components of the velocity vector are (iv) If we wish to plot the variation of velocity with time,
dx dy dz then we need to separately plot vx versus t, vy versus
vx = ___
​  ​, vy = ___
​  ​, vz = __
​  ​
dt dt dt t and vz versus t.
When a particle is moving along a curved path, its veloc- (v) Change in the x-coordinate of a particle can be
ity is along the tangent to its path. Magnitude of instanta- calculated if we know variation of vx with time
x2 t
neous velocity is instantaneous speed.
​_› Ú dx = Ú V
vxx ddt.
t
If velocity of a particle is ​v ​ = vx + vy + vz , its speed x1 0
__________
is given by v = ÷
​ ​v2​x​ ​ + v​ 2​y​ ​ +  
v​ 2​z​ ​ ​. Similar, equations can be written for y and z
coordinates.
(vi) Acceleration can also result in change in the direction
4. ACCELERATION of velocity apart from change in speed.
Any change in the magnitude or direction (or both) of veloc- (vii) Components of acceleration are
ity of a particle implies that it is accelerated. If a body
dvx dvy dvz
moves at a constant speed but keeps changing its direction ax = ____
​  ​, ay = ____
​  ​, az = ___
​  ​
of motion, we say that it is accelerated. dt dt dt
Average acceleration is defined as Magnitude of acceleration is
___________
​__› ​__› ​__›
​_› Dv​
​ ​______
v​2 – v​ 1​ Change in velocity a=÷
​ ​a2​x​ ​ + a​ 2​y​ ​ +  
​a2​z​ ​ ​
·​a ​Ò = ___
​  ​ = ​  ​ = ​ ________________
  
  
 ​
Dt Dt Time taken (viii) If ax = 0, then vx will remain constant. vx will change
Direction of average acceleration is in the direction of only if ax π 0. Components in y and z directions are
​_› related similarly.
change in velocity (D​v ​).
Instantaneous acceleration is
_
​› dvy Example 1 A particle moved from a point (1, 2) to a point
​_› dvx
d ​v ​ ___ dvz
​a ​ = ​  ​ = ​  ​ + ___
___ ​  ​ + ___
​  ​ (4, 6) in the xy plane. It moved along a circular path having
dt dt dt dt a radius of 5 m.
Components of acceleration vector are (i) Find the magnitude of displacement.
dvx dvy dvz
ax = ____
​  ​, ay = ____
​  ​, az = ___
​  ​. (ii) Find the distance travelled.
dt dt dt
​_›
Acceleration is directed along d ​v ​ which may or may not Solution
be in the direction of velocity. Concepts
_________________
In short (i) Displacement is = ÷
​ (x2 – x1)2 + (y   2
2 – y1)  ​

(i) When a particle moves from point P1 (x1, y1, z1) to (ii) Distance is the length of the circular arc.
another point P2 (x2, y2, z2), its displacement is a Displacement is the length of the chord.
vector given by
​__› In the figure shown, the par-
​Dr​ = (x2 – x1) + (y2 – y1) + (z2 – z1) ticle moved from A to B and C
is the centre of the circle.
Magnitude of displacement is
____________________________ Displacement
________________
Dr = ÷
​ (x2 – x1)2 +     
(y2 – y1)2 + (z2 – z1)2 ​
AB = ÷
​ (4 – 1)2 + (6  
– 2)2 ​
If the particle has moved along a straight line from _______
P1 to P2 (without reversing its motion anywhere in = ÷
​ 32 + 42 ​ = 5 m.
between), distance travelled is same as displacement. AM 2.5 1
If the particle has moved along any other path, then From the figure, sinq = ____
​  ​ = ___
​   ​ = ​ __ ​
R 5 2
distance > displacement.
fi q = 30°
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Motion in Two Dimensions and Projectile 6.3

If the particle moved clockwise from A to B, then the Direction of​___ average velocity is along the
›
distance is displacement AB​
​ .
2pR 2p × 5 ___ 5p
s = length of the arc (ADB) = ____
​   ​ = ______
​   ​ = ​   ​ m (iii) Change in velocity
6 6 3 ​__› ​__› ​__› ​__› ​__›
If the particle moved anticlockwise along AEB, the ​Dv​ = v​ f​ – v​ i​ = v​ f​ + (– ​vi​)
distance travelled is
5 25p
s = Length of the arc (AEB) = __​   ​ × 2pR = ____
​   ​ m.
6 3
Example 2 A particle travels along a circle of radius R = 2 m
and covers quarter of a circle moving with a constant speed
of v = 4 ms–1. ​__›
The adjoining figure shows the construction of Dv​
​ .
(i) Find its displacement. ______ __
(ii) Find its average velocity. Dv = ​÷v2 + v2 ​ = ÷
​ 2 ​ v
__
(iii) Find its average acceleration. = 4​÷2 ​ ms–1
__ __
Dv 4​÷2 ​ 16 ​÷2 ​ –2
Solution ·aÒ = ​ ___​ =
____
​  p  ​ = ​ _____
p ​ ms .
Dt __
​   ​
Concepts 4 ​__›
_
​›
(i) Displacement is the chord connecting the initial Direction of ·​a ​Ò is in the direction of Dv​​ , i.e. making
and the final position of the particle. an angle of 45° with OA (or OB).
(ii) Time of travel can be obtained by knowing that Example 3 A boy starts from his house and moves 2 km due
the particle has travelled through a distance of north-west, then 1 km due east and finally 4 km south-east
2pR
s = ____
​   ​ with a constant speed of v = 4 ms–1. to reach his friend’s house.
4
(i) Find the boy’s displacement.
(iii) Displacement divided by time is the average
velocity. (ii) Find the distance travelled by the boy.
(iv) Velocity of the particle changes because its direction (iii) While returning, the boy took a different route.
__
​_› ​__› ​__› He walked ÷ ​ 2 ​ km due North. Now, in which direction
changes. Change in velocity is D​v ​ = v​ f​ – v​ i​.
​_› and what distance shall he move to reach his house in the
​_› D​v ​
(v) · ​a ​Ò = ___
​  ​ quickest possible time?
Dt Assume that he is walking in an open field and there are
(vi) Instantaneous velocity is tangential to the path.
no barriers like buildings, etc.
​___›
(i) Displacement = AB​
​ Solution
Magnitude of displacement is Concepts
_______ __ __
Dr = ​÷R2 + R2 ​ = ​÷2 ​R = 2​÷2 ​ m (i) The resultant displacement is the vector sum of all
individual displacements.
​__› ​___› ​___› ​___›
​Dr​ = Dr ​ 1​ + Dr
​ 2​ + Dr
​ 3​ ...
(ii) The last displacement shall be such that sum of all
displacements becomes zero.
(iii) We will express all individual displacements
in , notation and add them to get resultant
displacement.

(ii) Time taken to travel from A to B is (i) Let east and north directions be positive x- and
Distance Arc length AB y-directions, respectively. The three displacement
D t = ​ ________
 ​ = ​ ____________
 ​
   vectors have been drawn with_their tails at the origin.
Speed Speed ​ __› ​___›
It is easy to see that sum of ​Dr1​ and Dr​ 3_​ __
is a vector
2pR/4 __ p
= ______
​ ›
​  ​ = ​   ​ s. of magnitude 2 km in the direction of Dr ​ 3​. Let us
v 4 __ __ ​___›
Dr 2​÷2 ​ 8​÷2 ​ –1 call this as Dr
​ 4​.
\ Average velocity is ·vÒ = ___​  ​ = ____
​  p  ​ = ____
​  p ​ ms
Dt __
​   ​
4
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6.4 Mechanics I

​_›
(i) ​r ​ = (– 4t2 – 3t + 1) + (t2 – 12t)
At t = 0
​_›
​ri​ = +0
At t = 1s
​_›
​rf​ = – 6 – 11
​_› ​_›
​rf​ – ​ri​ –7 – 11
\  ·vÒ = ​ ______
 ​ = ​ ________
 ​ = – (7 + 11 ) ms–1.
1 1 ________
   Magnitude of average velocity is ·vÒ = ​÷72 + 112 ​
​___›
____
​Dr2​ = 1 _ = ​÷170 ​ ms–1
​___› ​›
​Dr4​ = 2 cos 45° – 2 sin 45° _
​› d​r ​
(ii) Velocity, ​v ​ = ___​  ​ = (– 8t – 3) + (2t – 12)
__ __ dt _
​›
= ÷ ​ 2 ​  – ​÷2 ​  ​_› d ​v ​
Acceleration, ​a ​ = ​ ___​
\ Resultant displacement is dt
​__› ​__› ​__› __ __ = – 8 + 2 [constant acceleration]
​Dr​ = Dr​ ​ 2 + Dr​ ​ 4 = (​÷2 ​ + 1) – ​÷2 ​ _
​› _
​› _ ​› _ ​›
______________
When ​v ​ is perpendicular to ​
a ,
​ ​v ​ ◊ ​a ​ = 0
__ __
Magnitude of displacement Dr = ​÷(​÷2 ​ + 1)2 +    (​÷2 ​)2 ​ fi 8(8t + 3) + 2 (2t – 12) = 0.
__ __
= ​÷5 ​ + 2​÷2 ​ km. fi 68 t = 0
Displacement is directed at an angle q south of east fi t = 0.
where __
÷
​ 2 ​ Example 5 A particle is initially at the origin and its
tan q = ​  __ _______  ​ velocity depends on time as
÷
​ 2 ​ + 1
(ii) Distance = Actual path length = 2 + 1 + 4 = 7 km. ​_›
​v ​ = (2 + 3t + 3t2 ) ms–1.
(iii) While returning back, his first displacement is
​___› __ Find the position of the particle at t = 2 s.
​Dr5​ = ÷ ​ 2 ​ km.
Now his total displacement is Solution
_​ __› __ __ __ __ Concepts
​Dr¢​ = (​÷2 ​ + 1) – ÷ ​ 2 ​  + ÷
​ 2 ​  = (​÷2 ​ + 1)
x t
dx
___
Therefore, his last displacement shall be ​  ​ = vx fi Ú dx = Ú v x dt
__
dt 0 0
– (​÷2 ​ + 1) km so as to make his total displacement __ Similarly, for other components.
zero. It means that he will have to walk (​÷2 ​ + 1) km
due west. vx = 2 ms–1, vy = 3t ms–1, vz = 3t2 ms–1.
Since vx is a constant, change in x coordinate of the
Example 4 The position of a particle is given as the particle is given as
function of time x = vx ◊ Dt = 2 × 2 = 4 m.
​_›
​r ​ = [(– 4t2 – 3t + 1) + (t2 – 12t) ] m vy = 3t ms–1
y t
Find (i) Average velocity in the interval 0 £ t £ 1 s.
fi Ú dy = Ú v y dt
(ii) Find the time when acceleration is perpendicular 0 0
to velocity. 2
fi y = 3 Ú t dt = 6 m
Solution 0
2
Concepts _
​› _
​› vz = 3t
​rf​ – ​ri​
(i) ·vÒ = ​ _____​ z
2
2
Dt \ Ú dz = 3 Ú t dt
​_› ​_› 0 0
​_› d ​r ​ ​_› d ​v ​
(ii) ​v ​ = ___
​  ​ ; ​a ​ = ___
​  ​ fi z = 8 m.
dt dt
​_› ​_› ​_› _
​›
(iii) when ​v ​ is ^r to ​a ​ ; ​a ​ ◊ ​v ​ = 0 \ The position vector of the particle at t = 2 s is
​_›
​r ​ = ​( 4 + 6 + 8 )​ m.
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Motion in Two Dimensions and Projectile 6.5

Your Turn
​_› ​_›

| |
​_
Q.1 Velocity of a particle is ​v›​ = (2 + ) ms–1. Find its Q.4 d ​v ​
Is it right to say ​ ___
​  ​  ​ =
d|​v ​|
____
​  ​?
speed. dt dt

Q.2 A particle moves from (1, 1) to (4, 5). Find the Q.5 Find the magnitude of acceleration of a particle at
magnitude of its displacement. t = 0 if its position changes with time as
​_›
Q.3 A particle moves along a circle of radius 1m from one ​r ​ = 3t + (4t3 – t2) . Everything is in SI unit.
point to diametrically opposite point in 1 s. Find its average
speed and magnitude of average velocity.

5. DEALING WITH MOTION IN TWO (i) x = 4t, y = 2t

DIMENSIONS (ii) x = 2 cos3t, y = 3 sin3t

The general approach for solving a problem in 2D is quite Solution

simple. Motion in two perpendicular directions are indepen- Concepts
dent of each other. For a particle moving in the xy plane, the
motion is divided into two independent straight line motions The given equations are trajectory equations in parametric
along the x and y-axis. The kinematical parameters along the form. We need to eliminate t between them.
x-direction (x-coordinate, vx, ax) are related by equations of
a straight line motion. Similarly, the parameters along the (i) x = 4t ...(a)   and y = 2t ...(b)
x
y-direction are related to each other through an independent From (a) t = __​   ​
set of equations. 4
x x
If x component of velocity of a particle is constant, then putting in (b) y = 2 __
​   ​ fi y = __
​   ​
change in its x coordinate in time Dt is given by 4 2
D x = vx ◊ Dt This is the trajectory equation. The particle is moving
along a straight line.
This relation does not depend on vy and ay.
x
If a particle is moving in the xy plane with a constant (ii) ​ __ ​ = cos 3t ...(a)
2
acceleration, then the following set of equations suffice for y
our analysis: And ​ __ ​ = sin 3t ...(b)
3
vx = ux + ax t vy = uy + ay t Squaring both the equations and adding, we get
1 1
x = ux t + __ y = uy t + __
​   ​ ax t2 ​   ​ ay t2
() ()
x 2 y 2
2 2 ​​ __​   ​  ​​ ​ + ​​ __
​   ​  ​​ ​ = cos2 3t + sin2 3t
2 3
v​​2x​ ​ = u​ 2​x​ ​ + 2 ax ◊ x ​v2​y​ ​ = u​ 2​y​ ​ + 2 ay ◊ y 2
x2 y
fi ​ __ ​ + __
​   ​ = 1.
5.1 Trajectory Equation 4 9
This is an equation of ellipse.
An equation relating the x and y coordinates of a particle
moving in the xy plane is known as its trajectory equation Example 7 A particle is moving in the xy plane with a
or path equation. Many a times trajectory equation is written ​_›
velocity given by ​v ​ = u0 + [aw cos (wt)] . The particle is
in parametric form as
at the origin at time t = 0.
x = f (t) (i) Draw the path of the particle.
y = h(t) 3p
(ii) Find its distance from the origin at t = ___
​  ​.
Here, x and y coordinates of the particle are function of 2w
a common parameter t. By eliminating t between these two Solution
equations, we get the trajectory equation in general form. Concepts
Example 6 Find the trajectory equation of a particle mov- (i) We can draw the path if we know the trajectory
ing in the xy plane if its coordinates are given as function equation.
of time.
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6.6 Mechanics I

dx dy
(ii) ​ ___​ = u0 and ___
dt
​  ​ = aw cos (wt) can be used to write
dt

wx
y = a sin ​ ___
0 ( )
​ u  ​  ​
This is the required path equation. The path is a sine
x in terms of t and y in terms of t. Then, we can
curve as shown
eliminate t between the two equations.

dx
(i) vx = u0 fi ​ ___​ = u0
dt
x t
fi Ú dx = u0 Ú dt fi x = u0 t ...(i)
0 0

And vy = aw cos (wt) wx puo

​ ___
uo ​ = p or, x = ___
​  w ​
dy
fi ​ ___​ = aw cos (wt)
dt 3p
(ii) At t = ___
​  ​
y t 2w
fi Ú dy = aw Ú cos (wt ) dt

fi
0
aw
y = ___
0

​  w ​ [sin (wt)​]t0​ ​​ 

( )
3p
x = u0 ​ ___
​  ​  ​ and y = – a
2w
\ Distance from the origin is
fi y = a sin (wt) ...(ii) ____________

÷( )
x _______ 3p u0 2
From (i) t = __
​ u  ​. Put this in (ii) r = ​÷x + y  ​ = ​ ​​ _____
2 2
​  a2
​  ​​ ​ +  
0 2w

Your Turn

Q.6 Write the trajectory equation and draw the path of Q.8 A particle starts from the origin and moves along a
the particle if its x and y coordinates are changing with parabolic path given by y = 0.5x2. Its velocity component
time as along the x-direction changes with time as vx = (5t) ms–1.
(i) y = 2t2; x = t2 Find the particle’s distance from the origin and its accelera-
(ii) y = cos t; x = sin t tion at t = 1 s.
Q.7 Velocity of a particle changes with its position as
​_›
​v​ = (y + 1) + (x2)
Find the path equation, assuming that the particle passes
from the origin.

[ dy/dt ___
​ Hint: One can write _____
​ 
dy
​ = ​  ​  ​
dx/dt dx ]
6. PROJECTILE MOTION We consider the horizontal line through O as the x-axis
and vertical line through O as the y-axis.
A particle moving under gravity near the surface of the Earth
is known as a projectile. We will study the motion neglecting
air resistance and assuming acceleration due to gravity to
be constant. The trick of analysis is the same that we learnt
in the last section – divide the motion in two perpendicular
directions and treat them to be independent of each other.

6.1 A Ball projected from the ground

Consider a ball projected from a point O on a level ground.
It is projected with an initial velocity u making an angle q
with the horizontal.
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Motion in Two Dimensions and Projectile 6.7

Components of initial velocity 1

y = uy t + ​ __ ​ ay t2 [ ay = –g = a constant]
ux = u cos q ; uy = u sin q 2
1
Components of acceleration or y = (u sin q)t – ​ __ ​ gt2 ...(iii)
ax = 0 ; ay = – g 2
ay is negative, since it is directed in the negative y In fact, (ii) and (iii) are trajectory equations with t as a
direction. parameter. We can eliminate t between the two equations to
The x component of the velocity of the projectile does write the trajectory equation as

) )
not change as ax = 0, and in the y-direction, it is identical
to motion of a ball projected vertically up with an initial (
​ 
x
y = (u sin q ) ​ ______
u cos q
​  ​ –
1
__
2 ( ​ 
x
​   ​ g ​​ ______
u cos q
2
​  ​ ​
velocity uy = u sin q.
Velocity at time t
x component of velocity at any time t is vx = ux = u cos q
fi ​  2
(g
y = (tan q)x – ​ _________
2u cos2 q
​  ​ x2 ) ...(iv)

y-component of velocity at time t is This equation is the trajectory equation of the projectile.
vy = uy + ay t Since y is a quadratic function of x, it represents a
parabola.
fi vy = (u sin q) – gt ...(i)
A vertical line passing through the top point of the
Speed of projectile at time t is given by parabolic path divides the path into two symmetrical parts.
______
v=÷
​ ​v2​x​ ​ + v​ 2​y​ ​ ​ and it makes an angle a with the horizontal Time of flight (T )
given by Time of flight is the time when y coordinate of the projectile
vy becomes zero. It can be calculated by putting y = 0 in (iii)
tan a = ​ __
vx ​
1
y component of the velocity decreases as the projectile (u sinq) t – __
​   ​ gt2 = 0
2
rises, becomes zero at the top and then it begins to increase 2u sinq
in the downward direction. The following diagram shows the fi t = 0 or, t = ______
​  g ​
variation of velocity in a typical projectile motion. 2uy
2u sinq
\ Time of flight T is = ______
​  g ​ = ___
​  g ​ ...(v)

You must note that it is the same as the time of flight of

a ball projected vertically up with speed uy .
T
Time of ascent = Time of descent = __
​   ​.
2
Horizontal range (R)
Distance OQ that the particle travels in the horizontal
direction before hitting the ground is known as the horizontal
range (R). R is the x coordinate at t = T.
From Eq. (ii)
x = uxt = (u cosq)t
ux(2uy) (u cosq )(u sinq)
fi R = ​ ______ _____________
g ​ = 2 ​  g    ​
When the projectile is about to hit the ground, its velocity u2 sin2q
is u making an angle q with the horizontal in the downward fi R = ​ _______
g ​ ...(vi)
direction. Notes:
Position at time t 1. For a given projection speed u, range is maximum
x coordinate at time t is given by for q = 45° [Since sin 2q = sin 90° = 1]. Maximum
u2 u2
x = ux t = (u cos q)t ...(ii) [ ax = 0] range is Rmax = __
​ g ​ sin 90° = __
​ g ​.

y coordinate (i.e. height) at time t is

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6.8 Mechanics I

1
h = (u sinq )t – __
​   ​ gt2
2
(v) Time of flight and the maximum height attained
depends on uy only.
2uy ​u2​y​ ​
T = ___
​  g ​ ; H = ___​   ​.
2g

2. sin 2q = sin 2 (90 – q)

= sin (180 – 2q).
It means, we get the same range for angles of projec-
tions q and (90 – q ), provided the projection speed
is the same. If we project two projectiles at q and If two projectiles attain the same height, they have
(90 – q) with the same speed, the time of flight is the same time of flight too.
different; the trajectory is different. However, the (vi) Range of a projectile is
horizontal range is the same. 2ux uy u2 sin 2q
R = ux . T = ​ _____ ________​
g ​ = ​  g
For a given speed of projection (u), R is maximum
for q = 45° and we get the same range for two angles
of projection q and (90 – q ).
(vii) Path equation of a projectile is the equation of a
parabola.

( g
y = (tan q)x – ​ ________)
​  2 2 ​  ​x2
2u cos q
= (tan q)x ​ 1 – ​ __​  ​ [ ]x
R
Maximum height (H). where R is the range.
Maximum height is the maximum y-coordinate of the
Example 8 A ball is projected at a speed of 20 ms–1 making
projectile. At top vy = 0.
an angle of 53° with the horizontal.
v​ 2​y​ ​ = ​u2​y​ ​ + 2ay ◊ y (i) Find its speed when its velocity makes an angle of
37° the with horizontal.
0 = ​u2​y​ ​ – 2gH
(ii) Find the time when velocity makes an angle of 37°
​u2​y​ ​ u2 sin2 q
fi H = ​  ​ = ​ _______​
___ with the horizontal.
2g 2g (iii) What is smallest speed of the ball during its course
In Short of flight?
(i) The horizontal component of velocity does not (iv) With what speed the ball hits the ground?
change in a projectile motion.
Solution
vx = ux = u cos q
Concepts
(ii) As the projectile ascends, vy decreases and becomes
zero at the top. During downward motion, vy increases (i) Horizontal component of velocity does not change
in the downward direction. in a projectile motion.
(iii) A projectile is at the same height at two points in its (ii) vy = uy – gt.
trajectory. At both the points, it has the same speed. vy is positive when the ball is going up. It is nega-
Direction of vy is opposite at the two points. tive when the ball is going down.
(iv) The two values of time when a projectile is at a (iii) Minimum speed is at the top.
height h is given by roots of the equation.
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Motion in Two Dimensions and Projectile 6.9

3
ux = 20 cos 53° = 20 × __​   ​ = 12 ms–1
5
4
__
uy = 20 sin 53° = 20 × ​   ​ = 16 ms–1
5
(i) Let the speed be v when velocity makes an angle of
37° with the horizontal.
vx = v cos 37° = 4/5 v.
vx = ux
4
\ ​ __ ​ v = 12
5
fi v = 15 ms–1.
u2 sin 2 (45°) u2
Rmax = ____________
​  __
g    ​  fi 50 = ​ g ​ ...(i)
When the ball is projected up with speed u,
u2 50
hmax = ​ ___​ = ___
​   ​ = 25 m [using (i)]
2g 2
Example 10 A projectile is projected from point O on a
level ground. Point O is considered as the origin and hori-
zontal and vertical are regarded as the x- and y-directions,
respectively. The trajectory equation of the projectile is
4 x2
y = __
​   ​ x – ___
​   ​ where x and y are in metre. Find the
3 7.2
(i) Range of the projectile.
(ii) Velocity makes an angle of 37° with the horizontal (ii) Maximum height attained.
at two locations A and B (see the figure).
(iii) Time of flight.
vy vy 3
At ​ v ​ = tan 37° fi ​ ___ ​ = __
A : __ ​   ​ fi vy = 9 ms–1.
x 12 4 Solution
–1
At B :  vy = – 9 ms (i.e. 9 ms –1
in the downward Concepts
direction). (i) By comparing the given trajectory equation with
Using vy = uy – gt the standard equation, we can find u and q.
Time at A is given by 9 = 16 – 10 t (ii) Or, one can find range from the given equation by
putting y = 0 and solving it for x. Maximum height
fi t = 0.7 s.
Range
Time at B is given by – 9 = 16 – 10 t is value of y when x = ______
​   ​.
2
fi t = 2.5 s.
(iii) Minimum speed is at the top point of the trajectory Standard trajectory equation is
given by ux = 12 ms–1. g
y = (tan q)x – __________
​      ​ ◊ x2
(iv) The ball hits the ground with the projection speed 2(u cos q)2
of 20 ms–1 making an angle of 53° with the Comparing with the given equation gives
horizontal.

Example 9 A boy can project a ball with a fixed speed

4
tan q = ​ __ ​ ​ fi cos q = __
3
3
[
​   ​  ​
5 ]
g 1 10 × 7.2
in any direction. The maximum distance to which he can And ​ ________ ​ = ___
​   ​  fi ​ _______2 ​ = u2
throw the ball is 50 m. Find the maximum height to which
he can throw the ball.
2u2 cos2q 7.2 3
2 × ​​ __ ()
​   ​  ​​ ​
5
Solution fi u2 = 100 fi u = 10 ms–1
4 3
Concepts 2 102 × 2 × __ ​   ​ × __
​   ​
2 ◊ sinq ◊ cosq _______________
u_____________ 5 5
For throwing the ball to a maximum distance, the boy (i) R = ​  g ​ = ​   ​   = 9.6 m
10
must project it at an angle of 45° to the horizontal. For
getting the maximum height, the ball must be thrown
vertically upward.
2
u sin q 2
(ii) H = ​ _______​ = __________
​ 
()
102 × ​​ __
4 2
​   ​  ​​ ​
5
    ​ = 3.2 m
2g 2 × 10
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6.10 Mechanics I

4
2 × 10 × __ ​   ​ he throws a ball at a velocity
2u sinq ___________
_______ 5 u = 20 ms–1 making an angle
(iii) T = ​  g ​ = ​   ​   = 1.6 s
10 q = 37° with the horizontal.
4 x2 The ball hits the car. Find x0.
Alternate y = ​ __ ​ x – ___
​   ​
3 7.2 Neglect the height of the boy
Range is the value of x coordinate when y = 0. and the car.
4 x2 Solution
\ 0 = ​ __ ​ x – ___
​   ​
3 7.2 Concepts
4
__
fi x = ​   ​ × 7.2 = 9.6 m. Distance travelled by the car in the duration for which the
3
ball is in flight, plus x0, must be equal to the horizontal
Maximum height is the value of y coordinate when x
9.6 range of the projectile.
coordinate of the projectile is ___ ​   ​ = 4.8 m.
2 Time of flight of the ball is
4 4.82 3
2 × 20 × __
\ H = ​   ​ × 4.8 – ____
__ ​   ​ = 3.2 m ​   ​
3 7.2 2_______
u sinq __________
5
T = ​  g ​ = ​   ​
   = 2.4 s.
10
Example 11 Trajectories of three balls projected from a
common point O on the ground is
as shown in the figure. It is known
that ball 2 is projected at an angle
of 45° to the horizontal.
Which ball was projected with
the highest speed and which one
was projected with the lowest
speed?
Solution
Concepts Range of the ball
u2 sin2 q u2 2 sin q ◊ cos q
(i) Maximum height depends on uy only. R = _______
​  g ​ = _____________
​  g ​
(ii) Range depends on the product ux uy.
3 4
(iii) For a given speed of projection, range is maximum 202 × 2 × __
​   ​ × ​ __ ​
5 5
_______________
for q = 45°. = ​   ​    = 38.4 m.
10
Balls 1 and 2 attain the same height. Displacement of the car in time T = 2.4 s is
\ uy1 = uy2 x = v0.T = 6 × 2.4 = 14.4 m.
But R2 > R1 For the ball to hit the car we must have
fi ux2 · uy2 > ux1 uy1
x0 + x = R
fi ux2 > ux1
x0 = R – x = 38.4 – 14.4 = 24.0 m.
\ u2 > u1.
Ball 2 is projected at an angle of 45°. It means that ball Example 13 A hill is inclined at b = 45° to the horizontal.
3 must be projected at a speed greater than u2 then only it From the foot (O) of the hill, a stone is projected making an
can have range equal to that of ball 2. Mathematically, angle a = 53° with the horizontal at a speed u = 20 ms–1.
(i) Write the path equation of the projectile taking hori-
R3 = R2
zontal as x and vertical as y-direction.
​u2​3​​  sin2q ​u2​2​​  (ii) Find the coordinates
_______
​  __
​ = ​ g ​
g of the point where
fi u3 > u2 [ sin 2 q < 1] the stone hits the hill
slope.
\  u3 > u2 > u1
(iii) Find the time of flight
of the stone.
Example 12 A car is running away from a boy standing
on a straight road. The car is moving at a constant speed of
v0 = 6 ms–1. When the car is at a distance x0 from the boy,
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Motion in Two Dimensions and Projectile 6.11

Solution (i) Prove that t1 + t2 = time of flight

Concepts (ii) Find t1 and t2 for h = 5 m, u = 20 ms–1, q = 53°.
(i) We will write the equation of straight line
Solution
representing the hill slope. We will write the
trajectory equation of the projectile. Solving the Concepts
two equations simultaneously gives the coordinates The two values of time when a projectile is at height h is
of the point where the stone hits the hill. given by the roots of the equation
(ii) Using x = uxt we can find the time of flight. 1
h = uyt – __
​   ​ gt2.
2

Equation of line representing the hill slope is

y=x ...(i) [ slope = tan 45° = 1] (i) uy = u sin q
(i) Equation of parabolic path of the projectile is If projectile is at a height h at time t then
1
y = uyt + __

(
g
y = (tan q)x – ​ ________
​  2 2 ​ ​ x2
2 u cos q ) ​   ​ ay t2
2
1
h = (u sin q)t – __
​   ​ gt2
4 3 2
put tan q = tan 53° = ​ __ ​; cos q = ​ __ ​; g = 10 ms–2;
3 5 fi gt2 – (2u sin q)t + 2h = 0 ...(i)
u = 20 ms–1
4 10 The two roots (t1 and t2) of this equation give us the
y = ​ __ ​ x – ​ ___________
  2 ​◊ x2 time when the projectile is at A and at B.
3
()
3
2 × 202 ​​ __
​   ​  ​​ ​
5
(
– 2u sin q
Sum of roots t1 + t2 = – ​ ________
​  g )
2u sin q
​  ​ = _______
​  g ​ = T.
4 5
fi y = ​ __ ​x – ____
​   ​x2 ...(ii)
3 144 Alternatively, one can argue that the path of the pro-
(ii) using (i) in (ii) gives jectile from O to A is identical to its path from B to
Q.
4 5
x = ​ __ ​ x – ____
​   ​ x2 \ tB Æ Q = tO Æ A (= t1)
3 144
1 144 \ tO Æ B + tB Æ Q = T
fi x = ​ __ ​ × ____
​   ​ = 9.6 m.
3 5 fi t2 + t1 = T.
And y = x = 9.6 m. 4
(ii) Substituting u = 20 ms–1; sin 53° = __
​   ​; g = 10 ms–2
Coordinates of point A, where the stone hits the hill 5
and h = 5 m in Eq. (i) we get
are (9.6, 9.6) m.

(iii) ux = 20 cos 53° = 20 × __

3
​   ​ = 12 ms–1.
( 4
5 )
10 t2 – ​ 2 × 20 × ​ __ ​  ​t + 2 × 5 = 0
5 fi 5 t2 – 16 t + 5 = 0
The projectile has a constant horizontal velocity. Hence, _____________
time to travel x = 9.6 m in the horizontal direction is given 16 ± ​÷162 – 4 × 5  
× 5  ​
by fi t = ____________________
​      ​   
2×5
x 9.6
T = __
​ u ​ = _______
​   ​ = 0.8 s. ___
12 ms–1 8 ± ​÷44 ​
= ________
x
​   ​
5
Example 14 A projectile is fired from the ground at a speed ___ ___
u making an angle q with the horizontal. It is at a height h
above the ground at two times t1 and t2.
\ ( 8–÷ ​ 44 ​
t1 = ​ ________
​ 
5 ) 8+÷
(
​ 44 ​
 ​  ​ s ; t2 = ​ ​ _______
5
 ​  ​ s. )
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6.12 Mechanics I

Example 15 Hunting a monkey Example 16 A ball is projected from a point on the ground
A hunter aims his gun and fires a bullet directly towards a at a distance 10 m from the foot of a pole. The angle of
monkey sitting on a distant tree. At the instant the bullet is projection is 45°. The ball just misses the top of the pole
fired, the monkey freely drops from the tree. Prove that the and lands on the other side of it at a distance of 24 m from
bullet still hits the monkey. the pole. Find the height of the pole.

Solution Solution
Concepts Concepts
(i) The bullet will hit the monkey if both are at the Range of the projectile is given. x coordinate of a point
same location at the same instant. It means that in its path is given and its y coordinate is being asked. It
when the bullet is crossing the vertical line of fall is a direct question based on trajectory equation in terms
of the monkey, the height of the bullet and the of range (R).
monkey must be the same.
(ii) The bullet is fired along the line of sight to the Trajectory of the
monkey. ball is shown. Its range
is R = 10 + 24 = 34 m.
If height of the pole
is h, then coordinates
of its top point P are
(10, h) and they must
satisfy the trajectory
equation.

[ ( )]
x
y = x tan q ​ 1 – ​ __
​  ​  ​  ​
R

In the figure, G is the location of the gun and M is the

[ ( )]
10
h = 10 tan 45° ​ 1 – ​ ___
​   ​  ​  ​
34
24
monkey. The gun is aimed along GM and the bullet is fired = 10 × ___
​   ​ = 7.06 m
with speed u. 34

Let H = height of the monkey Example 17 The ceiling of a long hall is 7.2 m high. What
x = Horizontal distance of the tree from the gun. is the maximum horizontal distance that a ball thrown at a
Projection angle is given by speed of 20 ms–1 can cover without hitting the ceiling of the
hall? At what angle the ball must be thrown?
H
tan q = __
​ x ​ ...(i)
Solution
Time needed for the bullet to travel a horizontal distance
Concepts
x is
x x
t0 = __
​ u ​ = ______ ​  ​ ...(ii) Range of a projectile is maximum for 45°. But if the height
x u cos q attained is larger than 7.2 m for a ball projected at 45°,
Height of the bullet at t0 is then it cannot be projected at 45°. We will have to select
1 1 a projection angle (< 45°) for which the maximum height
y = uyt0 – __ ​   ​ g​t 2​0​​  = (u sin q) t0 – __ ​   ​ g​t2​0​​ 
2 2 attained is just less than 7.2 m.
The monkey falls through a distance y0 in time t0
1 For q = 45°
y0 = ​ __ ​ g​t2​0​​ 

2
If y + y0 = H, then the bullet definitely meets the falling
2
u sin q 2
​ 
÷ ( )
1 2
202 × ​​ ___
​  __ ​  ​​ ​
​ 2 ​
H = ​ _______​ = ___________   
 ​ = 10 m
monkey. 2g 2 × 10
1 1 This is greater than 7.2 m. Hence, we will project the ball
y + y0 = (u sin q)t0 – __ ​   ​ g​t2​0​​  + __
​   ​ g​t2​0​​  = (u sin q) t0
2 2 at an angle less than 45° so that it just misses the ceiling.
= (u sin q) ​ ​  (
______
u cos q
x
) ​ ​ [using (ii)] Let the projection angle be q

= x tan q = H [using (i)] u2 sin2 q

_______
​   ​ = H
2g
Hence, the bullet hits the monkey.
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Motion in Two Dimensions and Projectile 6.13

202 × sin2 q 202 × 2 × sin 37° × cos 37°

fi ​ __________ ​ = 7.2 = _______________________
​      ​   
2 × 10 10
fi sin2q = 0.36 3 4
= 80 × __
​   ​ × __
​   ​ = 38.4 m
fi sinq = 0.6 5 5
fi q = 37°. Note that the range decreases if q is decreased from 45°
Range in this case will be to 0° for a given projection speed. A more flatter trajectory
will result in a lesser range.
u2 sin2q
R = _______
​  g ​ \ Required answer is 38.4 m.

Your Turn
[Take g = 10 ms–2]
Q.16 A ball is projected from a point (O) on the ground.
Q.9 A ball is projected at a speed of 25 ms–1 from a point Horizontal and vertical are x- and y-directions, respec-
on a level ground. Its time of flight is 4 s. Find the range tively. When the ball is at a height of 9.1 m, its velocity is
of the ball. ​_›
​v ​ = (​ 7.6 + 6.1 )​ms–1. [g = 9.8 ms–2]
Q.10 The maximum distance to which a boy can throw a (i) Find the maximum height attained by the ball.
ball is 50 m. However, he throws it in such a way that the (ii) Find the horizontal range of the ball.
range of the ball is only 25 m. At what angle to the hori-
zontal he must have thrown the ball? Assume that he throws (iii) Find the speed with which the ball hits the ground.
the ball at the same speed in all the cases. Q.17 A cricket coach throws a ball with an initial veloc-
Q.11 Find the angle of projection, if the range of a pro- ity of 20 ms–1 at an angle of 45° to the horizontal towards a
jectile is 4 times the maximum height attained by it. player standing at a distance of 50 m. At what speed and in
what direction must the player run to catch the ball. Assume
Q.12 A water hose is located at a distance of 9.0 m from that the player starts running at the instant the ball is thrown
a tall wall. It ejects water at a speed of 15 ms–1 at an angle at him and that the ball is caught at the same height at
of 60° to the horizontal. At what height will the water jet which it was released. [g = 9.8 ms–2]
hit the wall?
Q.18 A ball is projected with a velocity of 10 ms–1 at an
angle of 45° to the horizontal. It is just able to clear two
walls each of height 2 m. Find the separation between the
walls. Also find the distance of point of projection from the
first wall.
Q.19 A stone is projected from the ground with a veloc-
ity of 25 ms–1. Two seconds later it just clears a wall 5 m
high.
Q.13 A gun fires a large number of bullets at speed u at (i) Find the angle of projection.
every possible angle with the horizontal in every possible
direction. Find the maximum area of the ground on which (ii) How far beyond the wall will the stone hit the
these bullets will spread. ground?

Q.14 With point of projection as the origin, horizontal Q.20 Two seconds after its projection a projectile is travel-
direction as the x-axis and vertical as the y-axis, trajectory ling in a direction inclined at 30° to the horizontal. After one
equation of a projectile is y = 10x – 0.1 x2. Find the range more second, it is travelling horizontally. Find the projection
and the maximum height attained by the projectile. speed and the projection angle.

Q.15 A grasshopper can jump to a maximum distance of Q.21 A particle is moving in the xy plane with a constant
1.6 m. It spends negligible time on the ground after hitting acceleration a0 directed along the negative y-direction. The
it and immediately goes for the next jump. If it takes each path equation of the particle is y = bx – cx2 where b and
jump 1.6 m long, how much horizontal ground will it cover c are the positive constants. Find the speed of the particle
in 8 s? at the origin.
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6.14 Mechanics I

Q.22 A ball is thrown from a ground level so as to just (ii) A projectile is at a height h at two times t1 and t2
clear a wall 4 m high at a distance of 4 m from the point (> t1). Its maximum height is H. Find t2 – t1 in terms
of projection. The ball falls at a distance of 14 m from the of H and h.
wall. Find the speed of projection. [g = 9.8 ms–2]
Q.25 Two particles are projected from points A and B on
Q.23 A shell bursts on the ground and the fragments fly the ground as shown in the figure, separation AB = 10 m.
in every possible direction with speeds up to 39.2 ms–1. A It is given that u1 = 15 ms–1 and u2 = 20 ms–1 and the two
man is standing at a distance of 78.4 m. Let t1 be the quick- particles are projected simultaneously. Find the time when
est time (after the blast) when the man could get hurt and the two particles will lie on a vertical line.
t2 be the maximum delay after which he can get hurt. Find
t2 – t1. [g = 9.8 ms–2]
Q.24 (i) Prove that the time of flight (T) and maximum
8H
height attained (H) by a projectile are related as T 2 = ___
​  g ​.

6.2 A Ball projected Horizontally from a Height coordinates at time t are

Consider a ball projected horizontally from a point O at a 1
x = ut and y = __
​   ​ gt2
height h above the ground. We will consider horizontal as 2
x-direction and vertically downward as positive y-direction.
Eliminating t between the two equations gives the trajec-
Components of initial velocity are ux = u, uy = 0. tory equation
Components of acceleration are ax = 0; ay = g

1 x 2
y = __ ( )
​   ​ g ​​ __
2 u ( ) g
​  ​  ​​ ​ fi y = ​ ___
​  2 ​  ​ x2
 ​
2u
This is an equation of a parabola.

6.3 A ball projected at an Angle from a Height

The two possible situations have been described below.
(i) Consider a ball projected upward at an angle q to
A ball projected horizontally and another ball dropped from the horizontal from the top of a tower of height h.
the same height have an identical vertical motion. Both are The motion of ball in vertical direction is identical to
at the same height at time t. that of another ball that is projected vertically upward
with velocity uy = u sin q, from the same height h.
If we release another ball from the same height h, the
two balls will have an identical motion in the vertical direc- Time of flight is obtained by solving the quadratic
tion. Both have zero initial velocity (in y-direction) and their equation
accelerations are the same (= g). At a time t after release, 1
y = uy t + __
​   ​ ay t2
we will find both of them at the same height. Both of them 2
will reach the ground at the same time. The only difference 1
in their motion is that the first ball has a horizontal velocity. fi – h = (u sin q)t – __ ​   ​ gt2
2
It keeps moving continuously in the x-direction with a speed
u till the ball hits the ground. Horizontal displacement in any time t is given by
A ball dropped from a height h has a time of flight x = uxt = (u cos q)t.
___

÷
2h
T = ​ ___
​  g ​ ​. Our projectile, projected horizontally, also has the
same time of flight. ___

÷
2h
\ T = ​ ___
​  g ​ ​. ___

÷
2h
Range of the projectile is R = ux T = u ​ ___ ​  g ​ ​.
Components of velocity at time t after projection is
vx = u; vy = gt
________
Speed v=÷
​ u2 + g2t2
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Motion in Two Dimensions and Projectile 6.15

(ii) When a ball is projected downward at an angle q to

the horizontal, its vertical motion is identical to the
motion of a ball projected vertically down at a speed
uy = u sin q.
Time of flight is obtained by solving
1
h = (u sin q)t + __
​   ​ gt2
2

(i) ux = u = 100 ms–1; uy = 0.

The bomb hits the ground when its vertical displace-
ment becomes h = 200 m.
1
y = uyt + __ ​   ​ ay t2
2
1 2
__
In both the above cases range is obtained by multi- h = 0 + ​   ​ gt
plying ux and the time of flight (T). ___ 2 ________
___
÷ ÷
2h 2 × 200
fi T = ​ ___
​  g ​ ​ = ​ _______
​   ​ ​ = 2 ÷
​ 10 ​ s.
10
In short
Horizontal displacement in time T is
(i) Time of flight can be obtained in any kind of ___ ___
projectile motion described in sections 6.1 and 6.2 R = ux. T = 100 × 2​÷10 ​ = 200​÷10 ​ m.
by considering the vertical component of the motion (ii) When the bomb hits the ground;
and using the equation. vx = ux = 100 ms–1
1 vy = uy + gt
y = uy t + __
​   ​ ay t2 ___ ___
2 = 0 + 10 × 2​÷10 ​ = 20​÷10 ​ ms–1.
You are free to choose upward or downward as ______ ___
positive y-direction but substitute y, uy and ay with a \ v = ​÷​v2​x​ ​ + v​ 2​y​ ​ ​ = 20​÷35 ​ ms–1.
proper sign. (iii) The plane is exactly above the target. In fact, the
(ii) Time of flight (T) multiplied by ux gives the range plane and the bomb are always on a vertical line
in all cases. as they travel equal horizontal distance in equal
(iii) To write a trajectory equation, express x and intervals.
y coordinates in terms of time (t) and then
eliminate t. Example 19 Three balls are projected at the same speed
in three different directions from a point at a height h above
the ground. One ball is projected horizontally, second is
Example 18 Bomber plane projected upward making an
A bomber plane is flying horizontally at a constant velocity angle q1 with the horizontal
of 100 ms–1. at a height of 200 m from the ground it and the third is projected
releases a bomb. down making an angle q2
(i) At what horizontal distance from the release point with the horizontal. Prove
will the bomb hit the ground? that all three hit the ground
(ii) With what speed will the bomb hit the ground? with the same speed.
(iii) Where is the plane located when the bomb hits the Solution
ground?
Concepts
______
Solution
v = ​÷​v2​x​ ​ + v​ 2​y​ ​ ​
Concepts
(i) Due to inertia, the released bomb has a horizontal For the first ball (projected horizontally):
velocity of 100 ms–1. It is just like a projectile vx = ux = u
thrown horizontally from a height.
(ii) The bomb and the plane both have the same vy when it is about to hit the ground is given by
horizontal velocity. They will travel equal hori- v​ 2​y​ ​ = u​ 2​y​ ​ + 2ay ◊ y fi ​v2​y​ ​ = 0 + 2gh
______ ________
zontal distances in equal intervals of time.
÷ \ Speed v1 = ​ ​v2​x​ ​ + v​ 2​y​ ​ ​ = ÷
​ u2 + 2gh ​
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6.16 Mechanics I

For the second ball (projected up): Solution

ux = u cos q1; uy = u sin q1 Concepts
​v2​y​ ​ = 2
(– uy) + 2gh The bearings leave the table when their centres cross the
______ ____________ edge of the platform. They successfully enter the hole
\ v2 = ÷
​ ​v2​x​ ​ + v​ 2​y​ ​ ​ = ÷
​u2​x​ ​ + ​u2​y​ ​ +   
​ 2gh ​ (without hitting the edges) if horizontal range of projectile
________ motion of their centres lies in the range
= ​÷u2 + 2gh ​
R1 = 9 + 1 = 10 cm to R2 = 9 + 6 – 1 = 14 cm.
Similarly, one can show that for the third ball also
________
v3 = ​÷u2 + 2gh ​
Note: After studying conservation of energy this problem
will become trivial. The height through which the centre falls is 81 cm, since at
the time of leaving the platform the centre is 1 cm above
Example 20 In a factory, ball bearings are moving on a it. Figure shows the situation when bearings are just in.
horizontal platform P. They fall off the edge with a hori-
zontal velocity u. The table at a depth of h = 80 cm has a ___ ______

÷ ÷
2h 2 × 81
hole of diameter Time of fall T = ​ ___
​  g ​ ​ = ​ ______
​   ​ ​ 0.4 s
10
AB = 6 cm as
shown in the fig- Minimum range is R1 = 10 cm
ure. Diameter of \ umin T = 10 cm
each bearing is d
10 cm
= 1 cm. Find the fi umin = ___
​   ​ ___
​   ​ = 25 cms–1
range of values 0.4 s
of u for which Maximum range is R2 = 14 cm.
the bearings will
14 cm
definitely fall into the hole without touching the edges of \ umax = ______
​   ​ = 35 cms–1.
the hole. 0.4 s
\ 25 cms–1 £ u £ 35 cms–1.

Your Turn

Q.26 A ball is thrown from the roof of a tower 45 m high. Q.29 A bomber is moving at a speed of 50​÷__2 ​ ms–1 in
–1
The ball is thrown up with a speed of 20 ms making an upward direction making an anlge of 45° with the horizontal.
angle of 30° with the horizontal. Find the time taken by the It releases a bomb when it was at a height of 1 km above
ball to reach the ground and speed of the ball just before the ground.
it hits the ground.
(i) Find the time of flight of the bomb.
Q.27 A body is thrown horizontally from the top of a (ii) Find the maximum height of the bomb above the
tower and strikes the ground after 3 s making an angle of ground during its flight.
45° with the horizontal. Find the height of the tower and the
Q.30 A stone is projected horizontally at a speed of
projection speed. [g = 9.8 ms–2]
10 ms–1 from the top of a high tower. Simultaneously another
Q.28 Two tall buildings are stone is released from the same point. Find the distance
d = 180 m apart. A ball is thrown between the two stones after 2.5 s.
horizontally at a velocity u from a Q.31 A tennis ball is hit horizontally with velocity u when
window w1 at a height h1 = 55 m it is at a height h = 2.25 m from the ground. It just man-
in one of the buildings. The ball ages to clear a net at a horizontal distance of 6.4 m having
hits window w2 in the other build- a height of 1 m.
ing which is at a height h2 = 10 m
(i) Find u (ii) Find the horizontal distance from the net
above the ground. Find u.
to the point where the ball hits the ground.
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Motion in Two Dimensions and Projectile 6.17

Q.32 Roof of a house is slanting making an angle of 30°

with the horizontal. Rain drops slide down the roof and leave
it at a speed of u = 4 ms–1. Find the horizontal distance
travelled by the drops after they leave the roof.

6.4 A Ball projected on a Hill slope Range along the incline is x coordinate of the projectile
at time t = T.
Consider a hill inclined at an angle a to the horizontal. A
ball is projected from point O making an angle q with the 1
Using x = ux t + __
​   ​ ax t2
horizontal. The projection speed is u. The projectile hits the 2
hill slope at Q and range along the hill slope is OQ. [We are having acceleration in x-direction also.]
1
\ R = u cos (q – a) ◊ T – __ ​   ​ g sin a  ◊ T 2
2
2u sin (q – a)
= u cos (q – a) ◊ ​ ___________    ​
g cos a
1
  – __ [
2 u sin (q – a) 2
​   ​ g sin a ◊ ​​ ​  ____________
2 g cos a ]
   ​  ​ ​

2u2 sin (q – a)
= ____________
​    ​ [cos (q – a) ◊ cos a – sin a ◊ sin (q – a)]
  
g cos2 a
2u2 sin (q – a) ◊ cos q
To analyse the motion, we choose x-direction up along R = __________________
​   ​    ...(iii)
g cos2 a
the slope and y-direction perpendicular to it.
R can also be written as
[Note: One may stick to considering x as the horizontal and
y as the vertical. Just to illustrate a different approach, we [ 2 sin A.cos B = sin(A + B) + sin(A – B)]
are considering the hill slope and its normal as x and y]. u 2
Components of initial velocity are R = _______
​   ​ [sin (2q – a) – sin a] ...(iv)
g cos2 a
ux= u cos (q – a) and uy = u sin (q – a) For a given projection speed R will be maximum when
Acceleration of the ball is vertically down and we can 2q – a = 90°
resolve it as
fi ​ a ​
q = 45° + __
ax = – g sin a [Since it is in the negative x-direction] 2
ay = – g cos a [Since it is in the negative y-direction] Rmax is obtained by putting this value of q into (ii)
Time of flight (T) is the time when y coordinate of the u2 (1 – sin a) u2 (1 – sin a)
projectile becomes zero. Rmax = ​ ____________
   ​
   = ​ ___________________
   
    ​
1 g cos2 a g (1 + sin a)(1 – sin a)
Using y = uy t + __ ​   ​ ay t2
2 u2
1 fi Rmax = ___________
​      ​ ...(v)
0 = u sin (q – a) T – __
​   ​ g cos a ◊ T2 g(1 + sin a)
2
A similar analysis can be done for a projectile which is
2 u sin (q – a)
fi T = ​ ___________    ​ ...(i) projected down the hill slope. The results obtained are as
g cos a
follows:
Maximum distance of the projectile from the incline can 2u sin (a + q)
be obtained as Time of flight, T = ​ ____________
   ​ ...(vi)
g cos a
v​ 2​y​ ​ = u​ 2​y​ ​ + 2 ay ◊ y Range along the incline is
0 = [u sin (q – a)]2 – 2 g cos a ◊ ymax 2u2 sin (q + a) ◊ cos q
R = __________________
​    ​ ...(vii)
g cos2 a
u2 sin2 (q – a)
fi ymax = ​ ____________
   ​
   ...(ii)
2 g cos a
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6.18 Mechanics I

y
From the figure: __
​ x ​ = tan37°

– 4T + 5T2 3
\ ​ _________
   ​ = __
​   ​
3T 4
5
fi –16 + 20T = 9 fi T = __ ​   ​ s.
4
15
Now BC = 3T = ___ ​   ​ m.
4
u2 [sin (2q + a) + sin a] BC
Once again from the figure: ___​  ​ = cos 37°
= ​ ____________________       ​ AB
g cos2 a
15/4 4
For a given u, R is maximum when 2q + a = 90° fi ​ ____​ = __ ​   ​
AB 5
a
fi q = 45° – __
​   ​ fi
75
AB = ​ ___ ​ m.
2 16
Maximum range is given by Example 22 A particle is projected up an incline of
u 2 inclination a. It is projected making an angle q with the
Rmax = ___________
​      ​ ...(viii) horizontal. Find the relation between q and a if the particle
g(1 – sin a)
strikes the incline while travelling horizontally.
Example 21 An incline plane is inclined at an angle of 37° Solution
to the horizontal. A body
Concepts
is projected from A in a
direction perpendicular to We can write the time of flight of the projectile in two
the incline at a speed of ways and equate them. One way is that time taken by a
u = 5 ms–1. Find its time projectile to reach its topmost point (i.e. when it is travel-
of flight and range along T u sin q
ling horizontally) is __
​   ​ = ______
​  g ​. The other way of writing
the incline. 2
time of flight is by using the formula in the last article.
Solution
Concepts Time of flight (considering hori-
zontal as x and vertical as y) is
one can use the formulae derived in the last section with
q = 53° and a = 37°. u sin q
t = ______
​  g ​
Just to re-stress the point that we can also solve the prob-
lem by taking x and y as horizontal and vertical we will Considering x and y along the
do it that way. incline and perpendicular to it

2u sin (q – a)
Consider horizontal as t = ​ ___________
   ​
g cos a
x and vertically down as
2 u sin (q – a) ______
u sin q
positive y-direction \ ​ ____________   ​ = ​  g ​
g cos a
uy = – u cos 37° = – 4 ms–1 fi sin q cos a = 2[sin q cos a – cos q sin a]
–1
ux = u sin 37° = 3 ms . fi 2 cos q sin a = sin q cos a
Let time of flight be T. fi 2 tan a = tan q
Horizontal displacement of Alternate
the projectile
Concepts
x = BC = uxT = 3 T
The projectile is at the top of its trajectory when it hits
Vertical displacement of the projectile the incline. We know its vertical height H and horizontal
1
y = AC = – uyT + __
​   ​ gT 2 = – 4T + 5T 2
2 (
Range
displacement ​ = ______
​   ​  ​.
2 )
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Motion in Two Dimensions and Projectile 6.19

u2 sin2 q R u2 sin q ◊ cos q

H = _______
​  ​ and __
​   ​ = ​ ___________
g ​
2g 2
From the figure
H
___
​   ​ = tan a
R/2
sin q
fi ​ _______​ = tan a
2 cos q

fi tan q = 2 tan a

Your Turn
Q.33 Particle 1 is projected from point A, on an incline Q.34 An incline plane makes a 30° angle with the hori-
plane, with a velocity u making an angle b with the hori- zontal. A particle is projected from this plane making an
zontal. Simultaneously another particle 2 is released from angle of 30° with the horizontal, at a speed = 5 ms–1. Find
A and it slides along the smooth incline. Both the particles its time of flight and range along the incline.
meet again on the incline. Find b in terms of a.

Miscellaneous Examples
Example 23 After reaching an altitude of 40 m, a rocket (y – 40)2 = 160x
begins to travel along a parabolic path (y – 40)2 = 160 x, dy dx
Differentiate wrt t: 2(y – 40) ___​  ​ = 160 ___
​  ​
where y is the vertical direction and all coordinates are in dt dt
meter. The component of rocket’s velocity in y-direction dx ___
___ 1
fi vx = ​  ​ = ​   ​ (y – 40) vy ...(i)
remains constant at vy = 180 ms–1. Find the magnitude of dt 80
its velocity and acceleration when it reaches an altitude of 1
when y = 80 m, vx = ___ ​   ​ (80 – 40) × 180 = 90 ms–1.
80 m. The origin of coordinates is on the ground. 80
______

Solution \ v=÷
​ ​v2​x​ ​ + ​v2​y​ ​ ​
__________
Concepts = ÷
​ 902 + 1802 –1
   ​ = 201.25 ms . [Ans.]
(i) Differentiate the trajectory equation with respect Differentiating Eq. (1) again wrt t
dy
to time. ​ ___​ = vy which is known. Hence, we can
dx
dt
find ​ ___​ = vx

dvx
ax = ___
dt
1
80
dy
​  ​ = ​ ___ ​ ​ vy ​ ___ [( ) dvy
​  ​ – 0 ​ + (y – 40) ____
dt ]
​  ​  ​
dt
dt dy dv y
put ​ ___​ = vy = 180 ms–1 and ____ ​  ​ = ay = 0
(ii) Since vy = a constant, ay = 0 dt dt
dvx 1
ax = ___
​  ​. ax = ​ ___ ​ [180 × 180] = 405 ms–2
dt 80
\ a = 405 ms–2.
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6.20 Mechanics I

Example 24 Deviation of a bullet (i) the time interval (D t)

between the two throws
A bullet is fired horizontally
and
at a speed of 400 ms–1. It
was aimed at the bull’s eye (ii) the coordinates of point
of a target that is 100 m away P. Take the coordinate
[g = 10 ms–2]. system as shown in the
(i) Find the distance by which the bullet will miss the figure.
bull’s eye. Solution
(ii) Find the angle that the velocity of the bullet makes Concepts
with the horizontal when it hits the target. (i) The ball thrown at 60° to the horizontal must be
Solution the first ball to be thrown as it will need more time
Concepts to reach P.
For small angles sin q tan q = q. (ii) The two balls collide–means that both are at the
same location at the same time. This gives us two
While using this relation, one must always write q in
equations: (a) Equating the displacement of the
radian.
two balls in the horizontal direction. (b) Equating
(i) ux = 400 ms–1. the displacement of the two balls in the vertical
Bullet will hit the target in time direction.

100 m 1
t = ​ ________  ​ = __
​   ​ s. (i) Let the time taken by the ball fired at 60° to reach P
400 ms –1 4 be t. Then the time taken by the other ball to reach
P is (t – D t).
Both the balls have the same displacement in the
x-direction.
__ __
\ x = (5​÷3 ​ cos 60°)t = 5​÷3 ​ (t – D t)
t
fi ​ __ ​ = t – D t fi t = 2D t ...(i)
2
Similarly, both the balls must have the same displace-
Bullet will miss the target by distance
ment in the y-direction as well.
1
AB = Vertical displacement in time __ ​   ​ s __ 1 1
4 \ (– 5​÷3 ​ sin 60°)t + __ ​   ​ gt2 = __
​   ​ g (t – D t)2
2 2
1 __
__
()
1 2 __ 1 1
___
= ​   ​ g ​​ ​   ​  ​​ ​ = ​   ​ × 10 × ​   ​ = 0.31 m = 31 cm
2 4 2 16 fi
15
– ​ ___ ​ t + 5t2 = 5(t – D t)2
2
(ii) Vertical velocity component when the bullet hits the
target is
1
fi
3
2 (
– ​ __ ​ t + t2 = ​​ t – __ )
t 2
​   ​  ​​ ​
2
vy = uy + gt = 0 + 10 × __ ​   ​ = 2.5 ms–1
4 3 t2
fi – ​ __ ​ t + t2 = __
​   ​
If q is the angle that velocity makes with the hori- 2 4
zontal, then
vy 2.5 fi 3t2 – 6t = 0
tan q = ___
​  ​ = ____
​   ​ = 0.00625
vx 400
fi 3t(t – 2) = 0
fiq = 0.00625 radian
fi t = 2 s.
180
= 0.00625 × ____
​  p ​ degree t
Time interval between the firings Dt = ​ __ ​ = 1 s.
2
= 0.36° (ii) Coordinates of P are
__ __
Example 25 Collision of balls x = (5​÷3 ​ cos 60°)t = 5​÷3 ​ m
A boy is standing on top of a tower of height__h = 10 m.
He throws two balls at the same speed u = 5​÷3 ​ ms–1. One
ball is thrown horizontally and the other is thrown making

1
y = 10 – ​ __ [ ]
​   ​ g(t – D t)2   ​
2
an angle of 60° to the horizontal. The two balls collide at = 10 – 5 (2 – 1)2 = 5 m.
a point P. Find
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Motion in Two Dimensions and Projectile 6.21

Example 26 An object A is held at a point (3, 1.25) m in \ |vy| = gt – uy

a coordinate system having y as the vertical and x as the
horizontal direction. At time t = 0, the object A starts mov- |vy|
​ ___
vx ​ = tan 45°
ing along positive x-direction with a constant acceleration
a = 1.5 ms–2. Its height above the ground remains constant at fi gt – uy = ux [ vx = ux]
1.25​_m. At the same instant (i.e. t = 0), a stone with veloc-
›
ity ​u ​ is projected from the \ ux + uy = 10t ...(iii)
origin. A stationary person on Now we have three equations and three unknowns. We
the ground observes the stone can solve the equations as follows:
hitting the object during its Add (i) and (ii)
downward motion at an angle
of 45° to the horizontal. All (ux + uy)t = 4.25 + 5.75 t2
motions are in the xy plane. fi 10 t2 = 4.25 + 5.75 t2 [using (iii)]
​_›
Find ​u ​ and the time t when fi 2
4.25 t = 4.25
the stone hits the object.
fi t = 1 s.
Solution
Now Eq. (i) gives:
Concepts
uy = 6.25 ms–1
(i) At time t, the coordinates of A and the stone will
Eq. (ii) gives
be the same. This will give us two equations.
(iii) Another equation can be obtained by the fact that ux = 3.75 ms–1
​_›
velocity of the stone makes an angle of 45° with the \ ​u ​ = (3.75 + 6.25 ) ms–1.
horizontal at time t. One must be careful that vy is
negative at this point as the stone is descending. Example 27 Two inclined planes OA and OB having incli-
nation 30° and 60°, respectively, intersect each other at O as
Let the projection velocity of the stone be shown. A particle is pro-
​_› jected from point __P with
​u ​ = ux + uy velocity u = 10​÷ 3 ​ ms–1
When the stone hits A, its y coordinate is 1.25 m. along a direction perpen-
dicular to OA. The particle
strikes plane OB perpen-
dicularly at Q. Find
(i) the speed with which the particle hits the plane OB
and the time of flight.
(ii) height h of point P.
(iii) distance between P and Q.

Solution
1
\ y = uyt – __
​   ​ gt2 Concepts
2
(i) As far as the calculation of time of flight and
fi 1.25 = uy t – 5t2 speed at Q is concerned, the question can be simply
fi uyt = 1.25 + 5t2 ...(i) rephrased as:
‘A projectile is projected at 60° __to the horizontal
Displacement of A in time t is
(from P) with a speed u = 10​÷3 ​ ms–1. Find the
1 1
xA = __
​   ​ at2 = __
​   ​ × 1.5 t2 = 0.75 t2 speed of the projectile and the time when its veloc-
2 2 ity makes 30° with horizontal while moving down
\ x Coordinate of the stone at time t is x = 3 + xA (at Q)’.
\ ux · t = 3 + 0.75 t2 ...(ii) (ii) Once we know the time of flight, we can find the
y Component of velocity of the stone at time t is horizontal displacement and vertical displacement
vy = uy – gt of the projectile from P to Q. This will give us the
distance PQ.
But this is certainly negative as the stone is moving
down. (iii) Simple geometrical relations can help us to get h.
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6.22 Mechanics I

(i) Let us take x- and y-directions as horizontal and

vertical, respectively.
__ __
ux = 10​÷3 ​ cos 60° = 5​÷3 ​ ms–1
__
uy = 10​÷3 ​ sin 60° = 15 ms–1
__
At Q, vx = ux = 5​÷3 ​

Speed of the ball just before

____
the impact = speed of the
ball just after the impact = ÷
​ 2gh ​.
The velocity after the impact makes a = (90 – q) with
x-direction along the incline.
vy 1__ __ \ ux = u cos (90 – q)
\ ​ __
vx ​ = tan 30° fi vy = ___
​   ​ × ÷
5​ 3 ​= 5 ms–1 (Ø).
​÷3 ​ = u sin q
Time of flight = Time interval in which the vertical and uy = u sin (90 – q)
velocity component changes from 15 ms–1 (­≠) to
5 ms–1 (­Ø). Using vy = uy + ay t = u cos q
Components of acceleration are
– 5 = 15 – 10t fi t = 2 s.
______ __________
__ ax = g sin q ; ay = – g cos q.
Speed at Q is v = ​÷​v2​x​ ​+ v​ 2​y​ ​ ​ = ÷ ​ (5​÷3 ​)2 +   52 ​ = 10 ms–1.
Time of flight = time when y coordinate becomes zero
(ii) Horizontal displacement of the projectile 1
__ __ y = uyt + __
​   ​ ay t2
x = PR = MN = ux ◊ t = 5​÷3 ​ × 2 = 10​÷3 ​ m. 2
1 2u
Vertical displacement of the projectile fi 0 = (u cos q)t – __ ​   ​ g cos q ◊ t2 fi T = ​ ___ g​
2
1
y = QR = uy t – ​ __ ​ gt2 The ball hits the incline at a distance AB given by
2
1
1 AB = ux T + __ ​   ​ ax T 2
= 15 × 2 – __ ​   ​ × 10 × 22 = 10 m. 2
2
Now x = OM + ON = (u sin q) ___
2u 1
​  g ​ + __ ( )
2u 2
​   ​ (g sin q)​​ ___
2
____
​  g ​  ​​ ​
fi x = h cot 30° + (h + y)cot 60° 2
__ __ 1 4u2 sin q 4(​
= ________
​  g
÷2gh ​) sinq ​ = 8h sin q
​ = ​ ____________
fi ​ 3 ​ h + (h + 10) ___
10​÷3 ​ = ÷ ​  __ ​ g
÷
​ 3 ​
fi 20 = 4h fi h = 5 m Example 29 Benches of a spectator gallery in a cricket
_______ ____________
__
(iii) PQ = ÷
​ x2 + y2 ​ = ​÷(10​÷3 ​)2 +  
102 ​ = 20 m. stadium are 1 m wide and 1 m high. A batsman strikes
the ball at a level 1 m
Example 28 A ball is allowed to fall vertically from rest. above the ground and
After falling a distance h, it hits an incline plane making goes for a six. The ball
an angle q with the horizontal. The ball bounces off the leaves the bat at 35 ms–1
plane with its speed remaining at an angle of 53° with
unchanged. Angle of incidence the horizontal. The first
for the ball is equal to the angle bench is 110 m away from the batsman. On which bench
of reflection. At what distance will the ball land?
from the impact point will the
ball rebound for the second Solution
time? Concepts
Solution
We will construct an incline plane connecting the edges of
Concepts the benches. This plane is inclined at 45° to the horizontal.
____
Speed of ball before the impact is u = ​÷2gh ​. The ball After this, we will calculate the coordinates of the point
rebounds with the same speed. Before the impact and where the ball hits the incline. This can be done by simul-
after the impact, its velocity makes an angle q with the taneously solving the equation of path of the projectile and
normal to the incline. the equation of straight line representing the incline.
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Motion in Two Dimensions and Projectile 6.23

The path of the projectile after hitting the plate is the

mirror image of its remaining path had there been no
collision.

We take the point where the ball is hit as the origin,

Reflection of bullet
horizontal as x-direction and vertical as y-direction. No change in vy
Equation of the straight line AC is vx gets flipped.
y = x – 110 ...(i)
Time of flight from O Æ C Æ B is equal to time of flight
[Coordinates of point A are (110, 0) m] for O Æ C Æ B¢ had there been no collision.
Equation of the trajectory of the ball is x 200 m __
g \ t = __
​ u ​ = __________
​      ​ = 2​÷2 ​ s.
y = x tan 53° – ______________
​    2 ​ x2 x 100 cos 45°
2 × (35 cos 53°) \ __Height of balloon = y co-ordinate of the bullet at
4 4.9 t = 2​÷2 ​ s.
fi y = __
​   ​ x – ____
​   ​ x2 [g = 9.8 ms–2]
3 441 1
fi h = uyt – __ ​   ​ gt2
4x 1 2
fi y = ___
​   ​ – ___
​   ​ x2 ...(ii) 100 __ 1 __
3 90 = ​   ​ × 2​÷2 ​ – ________ ​   ​ × 10 (2​÷2 ​)2
From (i) and (ii) ÷
​ 2 ​ 2
4x x2 = 200 – 40 = 160 m.
x – 110 = ​ ___ ​ – ​ ___ ​ fi x2 – 30x – 90 × 110 = 0.
3 90
_________________ Example 31 Projectile in wind
​÷302 + 4 × 90 ×
  110 ​
__________________ A ball is projected horizontally from the top of a tower
fi x = 15 ± ​     
 ​
  
2 of height h. There is a strong wind in the direction of the
= 15 ± 100.62 throw. Find the horizontal range for the ball in the follow-
= 115.62 m. ing two cases:
115 < x < 116 m. (i) The wind imparts a constant horizontal acceleration
The ball will land on a spectator sitting on the 6th a0 to the ball.
bench. (ii) The wind imparts a horizontal acceleration to the
ball that changes with depth (y) from the point of
Example 30 Reflection of a projectile
A bullet is fired from the ground with a muzzle velocity of ( y
projection as a0 ​ 1 – __)
​  ​  ​.
h
100 ms–1 at an angle of 45° with the horizontal. It strikes a Solution
vertical steel wall at a distance of 100 m from the gun. The Concepts
bullet rebounds in accordance to law of reflection without
change in its speed. It hits a balloon kept vertically above (i) The vertical motion of the projectile is not altered
the gun. What is the height of the balloon? by the wind
(ii) In the horizontal direction, the equation x = ux t is
Solution no longer valid as there is acceleration. We need
1
Concepts to use x = ux t + __
​   ​ ax t 2 when ax is constant.
2
Due to collision, there is no change in the vertical com- When ax is variable, we will have to find vx
ponent of the velocity of the bullet. Only its horizontal using
velocity gets reversed. Therefore, there is no change in vx t
the vertical motion of the projectile. Its time of flight and Ú dv = Ú a dt .
x x
0 0
maximum height attained do not change. The trajectory
Once vx is known, x can be calculated using
of the projectile to the right of the plate (see the figure t
below) gets flipped to the left of the plate. x = Ú v x dt
0
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6.24 Mechanics I

In y-direction we have uy = 0 calculate the ratio of velocity of the bird and horizontal
and ay = g. component of velocity of the stone, given that the stone still
\ Time of flight is obtained hits the bird while descending.
as Solution
___

÷
1 2h
h = ​   ​ gT fi T = ​ ___
__ 2
​  g ​ ​ Concepts
2 1
(i) Use of y = uyt + __​   ​ ay t2 can give us two values of
(i) We need to find displacement of the ball in the hori- 2
zontal direction in time T. time when the stone is at height h. Let the values
1 be t1 and t2 (>t1).
x = ux t + ​ __ ​ ax t2
2 (ii) Horizontal distance between the initial and the final
___
2h a0 ___ position of the bird = horizontal displacement of
÷
1 2h
\ R = uT + ​ __ ​ a0 T 2 = u ​ ___
​  g ​ ​ + __
​   ​ ​  g ​ the stone in interval (t2 – t1) = ux(t2 – t1).
2 2
___ (iii) Bird has travelled a distance of ux(t2 – t1) in time t2
2h a0h
= u ​ ___
dv
​  g ​ ​ + ___
÷
​  g ​. as it started flying when the stone was projected.
Let ux and uy be the
(ii) ​ ___​ = ax
x
dt components of initial
velocity of the stone.
dvx
fi ​ ___​ = a0 ​ 1 – __
dt
y
(
​  ​  ​
h ) v0 = Velocity of bird.
Initially, the bird is
1 at P and it is hit at
At time t, y = __
​   ​ gt2
2 Q. Maximum height
dv
\ ​ ___​ = a0 ​ 1 – ___
dt
x gt2
​  ​  ​
2h ( ) attained by the projec-
tile = 2h.
[This is a way of telling you the value of uy.]
\
Vx t gt2
Ú dv x = a0 Ú ​ 1 – ___
u 0
(
​  ​  ​ dt
2h ) uy2
\ ​ ___​ = 2h fi uy = 2​÷gh ​.
2g
___

a0 gt3 Let the stone be at a height h at time t.

fi vx – u = a0 t – ​ _____​ 1
6h y = uy t + ​ __ ​ ay t2
a0 gt3 2
___
fi vx = u + a0 t – ​ _____​ h = 2​÷gh ​t – __
1
​   ​ gt2
6h __ 2

( ) ÷
h 2h
a0 gt3 fi t2 – 4​ __
​ g ​ ​ ◊ t + ___ ​  g ​ = 0
fi dx = ​ u + a0 t – ​ _____​  ​ dt
6h __ ________

÷ ÷
h 16h 8h
( ) 4​ __
​ g ​ ​ ± ​ ____
​  g ​ – ___
R T 3 ​  g ​ ​ __
a0gt __ h
fi Ú dx = Ú ​ u + a0 t – _____
0 0
​ 
6h
​  ​ dt
2 4
\ ________________
t = ​ 
2
 ​
__
   = (2 ± ​÷2 ​) ​ __
__
÷
​ g ​ ​
__ h __ h
÷ ÷
a0 T a0 gT
fi R = u0 T + _____ ​   ​ – ​ ______​ \ t1 = (2 – ÷ ​ 2 ​)​ __ ​ 2 ​)​ __
​ g ​ ​ and t2 = (2 + ÷ ​ g ​ ​
___ 2 24 h
Time taken by the stone to fly from P to Q is
÷
2h
___
Put T = ​ ​  g ​ ​ __ h
__
___
2h a0h ___ a0h
D t = t2 – t1 = 2​÷2 ​ ​ ​ __
÷
g ​ ​.
R = u0 ​ ___
÷
​  g ​ ​ + ___
​  g ​ – ​  ​ __
__

÷
6◊g h
___ \ PQ = ux D t = ux  2 ​÷2 ​ ​ __
​ g ​ ​ ...(i)
ah
÷
2h
​ ___
​  g ​ ​ + 5 ___
0
fi R = u0 ​  ​ The bird covers the same distance in time t2.
6g __
__ h
Example 32 A stone is projected from a point on the
ground in such a direction so as to hit a bird on top of a
\ ​ 2 ​) ​ __
PQ = v0 t2 = v0 (2 + ÷ ​ g ​ ​
÷ ...(ii)
From (i) and (ii)
pole of height h and then attain a maximum height of 2h __ __
__ __ h
÷ ÷
h
above the ground (assuming no change in velocity of the ​ 2 ​)​ __
v0 (2 + ÷ ​ g ​ ​ = ux 2​÷2 ​ ​ __
​ g ​ ​
stone due to hit). If at the instant of projection the bird __
were to fly away horizontally with a uniform velocity, then v0 _______2​÷2 ​ 2
fi ​ __
ux ​ = ​ 2 + ÷
__ ​ = _______
​  __  ​
​ 2 ​ ÷ ​ 2 ​ + 1
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Motion in Two Dimensions and Projectile 6.25

Example 33 Minimum speed to cross a point If a projectile passes through the given point, its range
______
A ball is projected from must be R = ÷​ a2 + b2 ​.
point O. Find the mini- For a speed of projection u, the maximum range is given
mum speed of projection by
for which it is able to just
u2
clear a wall at a distance Rmax = __________
​      ​
g(1 + sin a)
a from O and having a ______
height b. u is minimum when Rmax = ​÷a2 + b2 ​
______
Solution u2
fi ​ ______________    ​ = ​÷a2 + b2 ​
Concepts
(i) The problem can be re-phrased as finding the mini-
( b
g ​ 1 + _______
)
​  ______  ​  ​
÷​ a2 + b2 ​
______
mum speed of projection from the origin so that a fi u2 = g(​÷a2 + b2 ​ + b)
projectile passes through a point (a, b). ______________
______
(ii) Coordinates (a, b) must satisfy the trajectory equa- fi u =÷
​ g(​÷a2 + b2 ​)   
+ bg ​
tion of the projectile. We can adjust the values of u
and q so that the ball passes through (a, b). We have Example 34 A fountain has a small hemispherical sprayer.
to choose value of q for which u is smallest. The sprayer has many evenly dis-
(iii) We will use the fact that for real roots of a qua- tributed small holes in it, through
dratic equation its discriminant ≥ 0. which water comes out with the
same speed in all possible direc-
gx2 gx2 tions. A co-ordinate system is
y = x tan q – _________
​  2 2
​
= x tan q – ___
​  2
 ​ (1 + tan2 q) shown in the figure.
2u cos q 2u
Put y = b and x = a (i) Find the maximum y co-ordinate (height) of a water
drop for a given value of x.
ga2
b = a tan q – ___
​  2 ​ (1 + tan2q) (ii) What is the shape of the water bell formed by the jets?
2u
fi (ga2) tan2 q – (2 au2) tan q + (ga2 + 2 bu2) = 0 Solution
Concepts
This is a quadratic equation in tan q, and value of tan q
must be real. The mathematical trick of writing a quadratic equation in
tan q; as learnt in the last example, will help us in solving
\ Discriminant ≥ 0 this problem also.
4a2 u4 – 4ga2 (ga2 + 2bu2) ≥ 0.
(i) The water jets follow parabolic paths and the water
4 2 2 2
fi u – 2gbu – g a ≥ 0 appears to form a
‘bell’ which is the
fi u4 – 2gbu2 + g2b2 ≥ g2a2 + g2b2 envelope of all
fi (u2 – gb)2 ≥ (a2 + b2)g2 these parabolas.
______ For a particular jet
fi u2 ≥ gb + g ​÷a2 + b2 ​ which ejects out
_____________
______ at an angle a, the
fi u≥ ÷
​ gb + g​÷a2   
+ b2 ​ ​ trajectory equation
_____________
______ is:
\  umin = ​÷gb + g​÷a2   
+ b2 ​ ​ g
y = x tan a – _________
​  2 2 ​◊ x2
Alternate 2u cos a
Think of an incline plane 1
_____ 2
writing ​  2 ​ = 1 + tan a and simplifying it gives
OA passing through (a, b). cos a
Inclination angle of the incline
is given by (gx2) tan2 a – (2xu2) tan a + (gx2 + 2yu2) = 0
b
sin a = _______
​  ______  ​ This is a quadratic equation in tan a and for a given
÷​ a + b2 ​
2
coordinates (x, y) its roots must be real.
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6.26 Mechanics I

\  D≥0 Example 36 Fenced mango tree

fi 2 4 2 2
4x u ≥ 4gx (gx + 2yu ) 2 A mango tree is fenced by its owner. The tree is at the
g centre and the circular fencing has a radius of 24 ft. A boy
u2
fi y £ ___
​  ​ – ___
​  2 ​ x2 ...(i) standing beside the fence throws a stone with a velocity of
2g 2u
48 ft s–1 to hit a mango at the top of the tree. Height of the
For real values of tan a, water can attain height given mango above the point of release of the stone is 32 ft. Prove
by (i) for a given x. that he must throw the stone at an angle of tan–1 (3) with the
\ Maximum y for a given x is horizontal. Also show that he cannot hit the mango with any
u2 g less velocity.[g = 32 ft s–2]
ymax = ___
​  ​ – ___
​  2 ​ x2 ...(ii)
2g 2u Solution
(ii) Eq. (i) divides the xy plane in two parts. Water can
Concepts
only reach regions under the parabola given by (ii).
This parabola defines the ‘water bell’ curve denoted Trajectory equation can be used to find the projection
in the above figure. The actual ‘bell’ is a three angle.
dimensional geometry obtained by rotating the above
parabola about the y-axis.

Example 35 A particle is projected up an incline of incli-

nation b, at an angle a to the horizontal. Find the relation-
ship between a and b if the particle strikes the incline
normally.

Solution
Concepts
If we consider x and y along the incline and normal to it, u = 48 ft s–1, g = 32 ft s–2
then vx = 0 at the instant the particle hits the incline. Let the projection angle be q.
g sec2 q 2
Time of flight is Trajectory equation is y = x tan q – ______
​   ​ ◊ x ...(i)
2 u sin (a – b) 2u2
T = ​ ____________
   ​ ...(i) 16
g cos b fi y = x tan q – ___
​  2 ​ (1 + tan2 q)x2
48
At A velocity of the particle is in negative y-direction and (1 + tan2 q)x2
vx = 0. fi y = x tan q – ____________
​   ​
  
144
This is satisfied by point (24 ft, 32 ft).
(1 + tan2 q) ◊ 242
\ 32 = 24 tan q – ​ ______________
 ​
  
144
fi tan2 q – 6 tan q + 9 = 0
fi (tan q – 3)2 = 0
fi tan q = 3 fi q = tan–1 (3).
(ii) Putting x = 24, y = 32 in Eq. (i) and taking u as
Since acceleration has x component ax = – g sin b unknown
\ Using vx = ux + ax t 16
32 = 24 tan q – ___
​  2 ​ (1 + tan2q)242
0 = u cos (a – b) – g sin b  ◊ T u

fi 2 tan (a – b) = cot b.
2u sin (a – b)
fi u cos (a – b) = g sin b ◊ ____________
​     ​
g cos b
[Using (i)] fi (
1,152 + 1,152 m2
4 = 3m – ​ _______________
​ 
u2
 ​ 
   ​ )
where m = tan q

( tan a – tan b
fi 2 ​ ​ _____________ )
   ​  ​ = cot b
1 + tan a ◊ tan b
fi 1,152 m2 – 3u2 ◊ m + (4u2 + 1,152) = 0
Discriminant of this quadratic equation is
fi 2 tan a – 2 tan b = cot b + tan a
D = 9u4 – 4 × 1,152 × (4u2 + 1,152)
fi tan a = cot b + 2 tan b.
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Motion in Two Dimensions and Projectile 6.27

One can check that D = 0 for u = 48 ft s–1 and

D < 0 if u < 48 ft s–1.
Therefore no real value of m (= tan q) exists if
u < 48 ft s–1.
Alternate:
Consider an inclined line
OM making an angle a with
the horizontal.

32 4
tan a = ___
​   ​ = ​ __ ​
24 3
\
2
l
2 OG = R – ​ l + 2 __
​   ​  ​( )
R – 2l
The maximum range along this incline for u = 48 ft/s fi OG = ______
​   ​
is 2
__

u2
Rmax = __________
​ 
482
    ​ = ____________
​      ​ = 40 ft
R – 2l ÷
\ coordinates of A are ​ ______
​ 3 ​ l
​   ​, ​ ____
 ​  ​ ( )
g(1 + sin a)
________
( )
4
​ 1 + ​ __ ​  ​ × 32
5
2 2
Similarly one can show that coordinates of B are​
OM = ÷ 2 2
​ 32 + 24  ​ = 40 ft.
( – l __
R____
​   ​, ÷
2 )
​ 3 ​ l ​.
Hence for a speed u < 48 ft s–1, it is not possible to reach
M for any projection angle q.
x
Trajectory equation is y = x tan q ​ 1 – __
​  ​  ​
R [ ]
__

[ ]
Example 37 Crossing a hexagon
A projectile is fired from point
÷
​ 3 ​ l
For point A: ​ ____
2
R – 2l
 ​ = ​ ______ ( )
R – 2l
​   ​  ​ tan q ​ 1 – ​ _____​  ​
2 2R
O on the ground, so that during __
÷ R2 – 4l2
​ 3 ​ l _______
its flight it just grazes the four fi ​ ____ ​ = ​  ​ tan q
vertices A, B, C and D of a ver- 2 4R
tical hexagon with side length __
fi 2​÷3 ​ Rl = (R2 – 4l2) tan q ...(a)
l. Find

[ ]
(i) the range R __ (R – l) R–l
​ 3 ​ l = ​ ______
For point B: ÷  ​ ​ 1 – _____
​  ​  ​ tan q
(ii) the maximum height attained by the projectile 2 2R
__
(iii) the angle of projection and fi 4​÷3 ​ lR = (R2 – l2) tan q ...(b)
(iv) the initial speed of projection. Dividing (a) by (b) gives

2 R2 – 4l2
Solution ​ __ ​ = _______
​  2  ​ fi R2 – l2 = 2R2 – 8l2
Concepts 4 R –l 2

__
[
R
x
(i) Trajectory equation is y = x tan q ​ 1 – ​ __​  ​.] fi R2 = 7l2 fi R = ÷
__ __
​ 7 ​ l. [Ans. to (i)]
(ii) coordinates of A and B will satisfy this equation. 2 2 2
Put this in (a): 2​÷3 ​ ​÷7 ​ l = (7l – 4l ) tan q
(since path is symmetrical, it automatically implies __
that coordinates of C and D will also satisfy the 2​÷7 ​
fi tan q = ____
​  __ ​ [Ans. to (iii)]
path equation). This will give us two equations. ÷
​ 3 ​
(iii) coordinates of A and B can be expressed in terms __ ___ __
2​÷7 ​ ÷ ​ 28 ​ ​÷3 ​
of R and l. \ sin q = ____
​  ___ ​ = ____
​  ___ ​ and cos q = ___
​   ​
​ 31 ​ ​÷31 ​
÷ 31
In the figure, OI = range = R
u2 2sin q cos q
y coordinate of A (or D) is R = _____________
​  g ​
__
__

÷
3
AG = l sin 60° = ​ __
​   ​ ​ l R.g ​÷7 ​ lg
2 fi u = ___________
2
​     ​ = ​ _________
___ ___ ​
2 sin q ◊ cosq
÷ ÷
28 3
x coordinate of A is 2​ ___
​   ​ ​ ​ ___
​   ​ ​
31 31
OG = OI – (EF + GF + EH + HI) _____

÷
31 lg 31 lg
But
l
HI = OG and GF = EH = l cos 60° = __
​   ​ fi u2 = ​ _____
__ ​ fi u = ​ ____
​  __ ​ ​ [Ans. to (iv)]
2 4​÷3 ​ 4​÷3 ​
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Worksheet 1
1. A particle is projected with a velocity v so that its (a) The one with the farthest range.
range on a horizontal plane is twice the greatest (b) The one which reaches the maximum height.
height attained. If g is acceleration due to gravity, (c) The one with the greatest initial velocity.
then its range is
4g (d) The one leaving the bat at 45° with respect to
4v2
(a) ___
​  ​ (b) ___
​  2 ​ the ground.
5g 5v
2
8. Two particles A and B are thrown simultaneously
4v 4v
(c) ___
​  2 ​ (d) ​ ___2 ​ from two different floors of a tower having distance
5g 5g d between them. Velocity
2. A shot is fired from a point at a distance of of particle A is vA at an
200 m from the foot of a 100 m high tower so that angle a from the horizon-
it just passes over it while moving horizontally. The tal while velocity of par-
direction of the shot with horizontal is ticle B is vB at an angle b
(a) 30° (b) 45° from the horizontal. If two
particles collide in mid-air,
(c) 60° (d) 70°
then vA/vB.
3. A gun fires two bullets at 60° and 30° with the
cos b sin a
horizontal. The bullets strike the ground at the same (a) ​ _____​ (b) ​ _____​
horizontal distance. The ratio of maximum height for cos a sin b
the two bullets is in the ratio tan a cot a
(c) _____
​  ​ (d) _____
​  ​
(a) 2:1 (b) 3:1 tan b cot b
(c) 4:1 (d) 1:1 9. A hose lying on the
4. A ball rolls off from the top of a staircase with a ground at position O
horizontal velocity u ms–1. If the steps are h metre shoots a stream of
high and b metre wide, the ball will hit the edge on water at an angle 30°
the nth step, if to the horizontal. The
speed of water is 20
2hu 2hu2 ms–1 as it leaves the
(a) n = ____
​  2 ​ (b) n = ____
​  ​
gb gb hose. How high __will
2hu2 hu2 it strike a wall 8​÷3 ​ m
(c) n = ____
​  2 ​ (d) n = ___
​  2 ​ away from the hose
gb gb
( g = 10 ms–2)?
5. A stone is projected from ground level. At a height (a) 4 m (b) 4.8 m
of
_ 0.4 m above the ground, its velocity is found to be
​› (c) 9.6 m (d) 2.4 m
​v ​= (2 + 2 ) ms–1. (x-axis is along the horizontal and
y-axis is vertically upwards.) The angle of projection 10. A car starts with a constant acceleration a = 2 ms–2
with the vertical is at t = 0. Two coins are released from the car at
t = 3 s and t = 4 s. Each coin takes 1 s to fall on
(a) 45° (b) 30° the ground. Then the distance between the two coins
1 will be (assume the coins stick to the ground).
(c) 60° ​ ​ ​ __ ​
(d) ta​n–1
4 (a) 9 m (b) 7 m
6. Two projectiles A and B are thrown with the same (c) 15 m (d) 2 m
speed such that A makes an angle q with the horizon- 11. A ball is thrown from a point on the ground at some
tal and B makes an angle q with the vertical, then angle of projection. At the same time a bird starts
(a) Both must have the same time of flight from a point directly above this point of projection
(b) Both must achieve the same maximum height at a height h horizontally with speed u. Given that in
(c) A must have more horizontal range than B its flight the ball just touches the bird at one point,
find the horizontal range of the ball.
(d) Both may have the same time of flight __ ___

÷ ÷
h 2h
7. Suppose a player hits several baseballs. Which (a) 2u ​ __
​ g ​ ​ (b) u ​ ___
​  g ​ ​
baseball will be in the air for the longest time? ___ __

÷​ g ​ ​ ÷​ g​ ​

2h h
(c) 2u ​ ___ (d) u ​ __
6.28
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12. A projectile is fired with a speed u at an angle q with vA > vB but have the same horizontal component of
the horizontal. Its speed when its direction of motion velocity. Which of the follow-
makes an angle a with the horizontal is ing cannot be correct?
(a) u sec q cos a (b) u sec q sin a (a) TA > TB
(c) u cos q sec a (d) u sin q sec a (b) HA > HB
13. A projectile is fired with a velocity u making an angle (c) RA > RB
q with the horizontal. What is the magnitude of the (d) RB > RA
change in velocity when it is at the highest point?
18. A stone projected at an angle of 60° from the ground
(a) u cos q (b) u level strikes the roof of a building h meter high, mak-
(c) u sin q (d) u cos q – u ing an angle of 30° with the roof. Then the speed of
14. Two similar guns simultaneously fire two projection of the stone is
identical bullets at target 1 and 2 as shown in the
figure. If the bullets
have identical initial
speeds, which of the
following statements
is true?
(a) Target 2 is hit
____ ____
before target 1 (a) ​÷2gh ​ (b) ​÷6gh ​
(b) Target 1 is hit before target 2 ____ ___
(c) ​÷3gh ​ (d) ​÷gh ​
(c) Both are hit at the same time
19. A particle is projected from
(d) information is insufficient
the top of a tower of height
15. A ball is projected from a point at two different 1,500 m and at a velocity v
angles with the same speed u and lands at the same making an angle of 37° with
point. in both the cases the horizontal and its verti-
(a) the difference between the two angles of projec- cally downward component
tion is 90°. is 100 ms–1 as shown in the
(b) the maximum height attained by the ball in both figure. The distance from
the cases is equal. the foot of the tower where it strikes the ground
(c) the sum of maximum heights for the two cases will be ( g = 10 ms–2)
is u2/(2g). (a) 986.4 m (b) 1,700 m
(d) the maximum height attained by the ball in (c) 2,000 m (d) 3,000 m
one case must be twice of the maximum height 20. Two particles A and B are placed as shown in the
attained by the ball in the second case. figure. particle A, on the top of a tower, is pro-
16. A tennis ball is hit from a height h = 1 m above the jected horizontally
ground level at an angle A = 45° towards a wall that with a velocity u
is at a horizontal and particle B is
distance D = 15 m. projected along the
The ball hits the surface towards the
wall after 1.50 s. tower, simultaneously. B moves with a constant
At what height speed. If both the particles meet each other, then
above the ground the speed of projection of particle B is
___ ___
does the ball hit g g
the wall (in m)? ÷
(a) d ​ ___
​  ​ ​ – u
2H
___
÷
(b) d ​ ___
​  ​ ​
2H
(a) 4.75 m (b) 3 m g
(c) 2.25 m (d) 0 ÷
(c) d ​ ___
​  ​ ​ + u
2H
(d) u

17. Two projectiles are projected with velocity vA, vB 21. A body is thrown horizontally from the top of a tower
at angles qA (from the horizontal) and qB (from the and strikes the ground after three seconds at an angle
vertical) as shown in the figure below, such that 45° with the horizontal. The height of the tower and
the speed with which the body was projected will be,
respectively ( g = 9.8 ms–2).

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(a) 30.2 m, 29.4 ms–1 (b) 44.1 m, 29.4 ms–1 28. A particle is at the origin of coordinates at time t = 0
(c) 44.1 m, 10.2 ms–1 (d) 30.2 m, 15 ms–1 and moves in the xy plane with a constant accelera-
22. A bullet fired at an angle of 30° with the horizontal tion a in the y-direction. Its equation of motion is
hits the ground 3 km away. By adjusting its angle of y = bx2 where b is constant. Its velocity component
projection, what is the maximum horizontal range in the x-direction is
one can achieve. Assume the muzzle speed to be (a) Variable
_____
(b) a /2b
fixed and neglect air resistance. (c) ​÷a /2b ​ (d) None of these
(a) 3.10 km (b) 4.2 km 29. A boy throws a ball
(c) 4.354 km (d) 3.464 km upwards with velocity
23. A ball is projected with a velocity 20 ms–1 at an v0 = 20 ms–1. The wind imparts
angle to the horizontal. In order to have the maxi- a horizontal acceleration of
mum range its velocity at the highest position must 4 ms–2 towards left to the
be close to ball. Angle q with verti-
cal at which the ball must
(a) 10 ms–1 (b) 14 ms–1
–1
be thrown so that the ball
(c) 18 ms (d) 16 ms–1 returns to the boy’s hand is
24. Three particles, A, B and C are projected from the ( g = 10 ms–2)
same point with the same initial speeds making angles (a) tan–1(1.2) (b) tan–1(0.2)
30°, 45° and 60°, respectively, with the horizontal. (c) tan–1(2) (d) tan–1(0.4)
Which of the following statement is correct?
30. A point moves in the xy-plane according to the equa-
(a) A, B and C have equal ranges tion x = at, y = at (1 – bt), where a and b are positive
(b) ranges of A and C are equal and less than that constants and t is time. The time at which velocity
of B vector is at an angle p /4 with the acceleration vector
(c) ranges of A and C are equal and greater than is given by
that of B (a) 1/a (b) 1/b
(d) A, B and C have equal ranges (c) 1/a + 1/b (d) (a + b)/(a2 + b2)
25. A boy throws a ball with a velocity v0 at an angle 31. A small marble is
a to the horizontal. At the same instant, he starts projected with a
running with a uniform velocity to catch the ball velocity of 10 ms–1
before it hits the ground. To achieve this, he should in a direction 45°
run with a velocity of from the y-direc-
(a) v0 cos a (b) v0 sin a tion on the smooth
_______
inclined plane.
(c) v0 tan a (d) ​÷​v2​0​​  tan a ​
The magnitude of
26. It was calculated that a shell when fired from a gun its velocity after
5p 2 s will be (take
with a certain velocity and at an angle of elevation ___
​   ​
36 g = 10 ms–2)
rad should strike a given target. In actual practice, it (a) 5 ms–1 (b) 6.5 ms–1
was found that a hill just prevented the trajectory. At –1
(c) 10 ms (d) 12.5 ms–1
what angle of elevation should the gun be fired to hit
the target? 32. The instantaneous ​_›
velocity of a particle moving in
the xy-plane is ​v ​ = (ay) + (v0) , where y is the
5p 11p
(a) ​ ___ ​ rad (b) ​ ____ ​ rad instantaneous y coordinate of the particle and v0 is
36 36 a positive constant and a is a negative constant. If
7p
___ 13p
____ the particle starts from the origin then its trajectory is
(c) ​   ​ rad (d) ​   ​ rad
36 36
27. A particle is projected from a point (0, 1) on y-axis
(assume + y-direction vertically upwards) aiming (a) (b)
towards a point (4, 9). It fell on the ground on x-axis
in 1 s. Taking g = 10 ms–2 and all coordinate in
metres, find the x-coordinate of the point where it
fell.
(a) (3, 0) (b) (4, __
0) (c) (d)
(c) (2, 0) (d) (2 ​÷5 ​, 0)

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33. Find the time of flight of a projectile thrown 38. A projectile is projected with a velocity of 20 ms–1
horizontally with a speed of 10 ms–1 from a long making an angle 60° with the horizontal. Its aver-
inclined plane which makes an angle of q = 45° with age velocity between the instant it crosses half the
the horizontal. maximum height is
__ __
(a) ​÷2 ​ s (b) 2 ​÷2 ​ s (a) 10 ms–1 (b) 12 ms–1
–1
(c) 2 s (d) none (c) 9 ms (d) 4.5 ms–1
34. A projectile is fired with a 39. A particle is pro-
velocity v at right angle to the jected from__ a point
slope which is inclined at an A with u ​÷2 ​ veloc-
angle q with the horizontal. The ity at an angle of
expression for the range R along 45° with the hori-
the incline is zontal as shown
in the figure. It
2v2 2v2
(a) ​ ___
g ​ sec q (b) ​ ___
g ​ tan q strikes the plane BC at right angles. The speed of
the particle at the time of collision is
2v2 v2 __
(c) ​ ___
g ​ tan q sec q (d) __
​ g ​ tan2 q ÷
​ 3 ​u u
(a) ____
​   ​ (b) ​ __ ​
2 2
35. A ball thrown down 2u
the incline strikes (c) ___
​  __ ​ (d) u
÷
​ 3 ​
at a point on the
40. A cricket player while standing still, throws a ball
incline 25 m below
upward at an angle of 60° above the horizontal. As
the horizontal as
soon as the ball is released, he starts running along
shown in the figure.
the ground level under the ball and 2 s later when he
If the ball rises to a
comes to rest he catches the ball at the same height at
maximum height of 20 m above the point of projec-
which he released it. Neglect the effects of air resis-
tion, the angle of projection a (with horizontal x-axis)
tance or wind on the ball. From the following graphs,
is
represent-
4 3
(a) tan–1 ​ __ ​ (b) tan–1 ​ __ ​ ing hori-
3 4
zontal posi-
3 2
(c) tan–1 ​ __ ​ (d) tan–1 ​ __ ​ tion versus
2 3
time, choose the one that best represents the motion
36. A hunter tries to hunt a monkey with a small, very
of the player and of the ball.
poisonous arrow, blown from a pipe with an initial
speed v0. The monkey is hanging on a branch of a
tree at height H above the ground. The hunter is at a
distance X from the bottom of the tree. The monkey (a) (b)
sees the arrow leaving the blow pipe and immediately
loses the grip on the tree, falling freely down with
zero initial velocity. The minimum initial speed v0 of
the arrow for the hunter to succeed while the monkey
is in air is (c) (d)
_________ ________

÷ ÷
g(H2 + X2) gH2
(a) ​ ​ _________
   ​ ​ (b) ​ ________
​  _______  ​ ​
2H ÷​ H2 + X2 ​ 41. Salman is standing on a bridge above a road and
_________ _______ his fans are getting too close for comfort. He spots

÷ ÷
g(H2 + X2) 2gH2 a flatbed truck loaded with mattresses approaching
(c) ​ ​ _________
   ​ ​ (d) ​  ​ _______  ​ ​
H H2 + X2 at 30 ms–1 which he measures by knowing that the
telephones poles the truck is passing are 20 m apart
37. An object is moving in the xy plane_​ with the posi-
› in this country. The bed of truck is 20 m below
tion as a function_​ of time given by ​r ​ = x(t) + y(t)
› the bridge and Salman quickly calculates how many
. Point O is at ​r ​ = 0. The distance of object from
poles away the truck should be when he jumps down
O is definitely decreasing when
the bridge onto the truck making his escape. How
(a) vx > 0, vy > 0 (b) vx < 0, vy < 0 many poles is it?
(c) xvx + yvy < 0 (d) xvx + yvy > 0

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(a) 3 (b) 5 45. A particle moves
(c) 2 (d) 6 in the x–y plane,
42. A projectile is pro- starting from A,
jected as shown in the along the straight
figure. A proper light line paths AB and
arrangement makes a then BC, as shown
shadow of the ball on in the figure.
the wall as well as on When it is at point
the floor? Which of P, angle between
the following graphs the directions of
is incorrect: its average velocity and instantaneous velocity is
[tan 37° = 3/4]
(a) 90° (b) 82°
(a) (c) 98° (d) 74°
46. A ball of mass m is projected from
a point P on the ground as shown
in the figure. It hits a fixed vertical
(b) wall at a distance l from P such
that its speed remains unchanged
and angle of incidence is equal
to angle of reflection. Choose the most appropriate
option:
(c) (a) the ball will return to the point P directly if
l = half of the horizontal range.
(b) the ball will return to the point P directly if
l < half of the horizontal range.
(d) (c) the ball will return to the initial point directly
if l > half of the horizontal range.
(d) If l < half of the range, ball hits the ground
43. A ball is projected from the ground with a velocity between the foot of the wall and point P.
v at an angle q to the vertical. On its path, it makes 47. Three stones A, B and C are projected from the
an elastic collision (i.e., speed remains unchanged surface of a very long inclined plane with equal
and angle of incidence = angle of reflection) with speeds and different angles of projection as shown
a vertical wall and returns to the ground. The total in the figure. The incline makes an angle q with the
time of flight of the ball is horizontal. If HA, HB and HC are maximum distance
of A, B and C, respectively, from the inclined plane,
2v sin q 2v cos q
(a) ​ ______
g ​ (b) ​ _______
g ​ then

v sin 2q v cos q
(c) ​ ______
g ​ (d) ​ ______
g ​
44. A fighter plane is directly over an antiaircraft gun at
t = 0. The plane is moving horizontally at 500 km/h–1
at a height of 2 km above the gun. A shell is fired
at t = 0 to hit the plane. Speed of the fired shell
is 1,000 ms–1. At what angle to the horizontal the
muzzle of the gun shall be inclined so as to hit the
plane?
(a) HA + HC = HB
​  5  ​
(a) sin–1___ ​  5  ​
(b) cos–1___ (b) ​H​2A​​  + H
​ 2​C​​  = ​H2​B​​ 
36 36
(c) HA + HC = 2HB
​ 25 ​
(c) sin–1 ___ ​ 3 ​
(d) cos–1 __
36 8 (d) ​H​2A​​  + H
​ 2​C​​  = 2​H2​B​​ 

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Worksheet 2
1. Pick the correct statements: (d) The path of the projectile may be a straight
(a) Average speed of a particle in a given time is line.
never less than the magnitude of the average 5. In the given figure, points A and C are on the
horizontal ground and points A and B are in the same

||
velocity. ​__›
​
du​
___ vertical plane. Bullets are fired simultaneously from
(b) It is possible to have a situation in which ​ ​  ​  ​π 0
dt A, B and C. The bullet at B is fired horizontally with
d ​_›
but __
​  ​ ​| ​u ​ |​ = 0. 72
dt a speed of ___
​   ​  kmh–1 and the bullet at C is projected
(c) The average velocity of a particle is zero in a 5
54
time interval. It is possible that the instantaneous vertically upward at a velocity of ___​   ​ kmh–1.
5
velocity is never zero in the interval.
(d) The average velocity of a particle moving on
a straight line is zero in a time interval. It is
possible that the instantaneous velocity is never
zero in the interval (infinite acceleration is not
allowed)
2. Which of the following statements are true for a
moving body?
(a) If its speed changes, its velocity must change
and it must have some acceleration. (a) Collision of all the three bullets at the same time
(b) If its velocity changes, its speed must change is not possible.
and it must have some acceleration. (b) The three bullets can collide at D if velocity of
(c) If its velocity changes, its speed may or may not the bullet projected from A is 5 ms–1.
change and it must have some acceleration. (c) If velocity of the bullet projected from A is 5
(d) If its speed changes but direction of motion does ms–1 then all three will collide irrespective of
not change, its velocity may remain constant. the height from which B is projected.
3. Three point particles A, (d) If bullets are fired only from A and C, then there
B and C are projected is a unique value of projection speed at A for
simultaneously from the which it collides with the bullet fired from C.
same point at the same speed 6. A particle is projected from the ground with velocity
at t = 0 as shown in the fig- u at angle q with the horizontal. The horizontal range,
ure. For this situation, select maximum height and time of flight are R, H and T
correct statement(s). respectively. Now keeping u as fixed, q is varied from
(a) All of them reach the 30° to 60°. Then,
ground at the same time. (a) R will first increase then decrease, H will
(b) All of them reach the ground at different time. increase and T will decrease.
(c) All of them reach the ground with the same (b) R will first increase then decrease while H and
speed. T both will increase.
(d) All of them have same horizontal displacement (c) R will decrease while H and T will increase.
when they reach the ground. (d) R will increase while H and T will increase.
4. A projectile is thrown with speed u into air from a 7. A particle moves in the xy plane with a constant
point on the horizontal ground at an angle q with acceleration ‘g’ in the negative y-direction. Its
the horizontal. If the air exerts a constant horizontal equation of motion is y = ax – bx2, where a and b are
resistive force on the projectile then select the correct constants. Which of the followings are correct?
alternative (s). (a) The x-component of the particle's velocity is
(a) At the farthest point, the velocity is horizontal. constant.
(b) The time for ascent equals the time for (b) At ___the origin, the y-component of its velocity is
g
÷
descent.
a ​ ___
​  ​ ​ .
(c) The path of the projectile may be parabolic. 2b

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(c) At the origin, its velocity makes an angle and at the moment of collision,
tan–1 (a) with the x-axis. velocity of ball I is horizontal.
(d) The particle moves exactly like a projectile. (a) speed u is 40/÷3 ms–1.
8. A stone is thrown at an angle of 45° above the (b) distance of point of pro-
horizontal x-axis in the + x-direction. If air resistance jection of ball I from the
is ignored, which of the velocity versus time graphs base of the tower (x) is
shown below best represents vx versus t and vy versus 40/÷3 m.
t, respectively? (c) height of the tower (h) is 40 m.
(d) the two balls cannot collide while the first one
is moving horizontally.
12. Two balloons are simultaneously released from two
buildings A and B. Balloon from building A rises
with constant velocity 10 ms–1, While the other one
vx versus t vx versus t vy versus t vy versus t rises with a constant velocity of 20 ms–1. Due to wind
the balloons gather horizontal velocity vx = 0.5y,
(a) I, IV (b) II, I
where y is the height from the point of release. The
(c) II, IV (d) II, III buildings are at a distance of 250 m and after some
9. Two particles A and B are projected along different time t the balloons collide.
directions from the same point P on the ground with
the same speed of 70 ms–1 in the same vertical plane.
They hit the ground at the same point Q such that
PQ = 480 m. Then (use g = 9.8 ms–2, sin–1 0.96 = 74°,
sin–1 0.6 = 37°)
(a) ratio of their time of flights is 4:5.
(b) ratio of their maximum heights is 9:16.
(c) ratio of their minimum speeds during flight is
4:3.
(d) the bisector of the angle between their directions
of projection makes an angle of 45° with the
horizontal. (a) t = 5 s
10. Two particles were projected one by one with the (b) difference in height of buildings is 100 m
same initial velocity from the same point on the (c) difference in height of buildings is 500 m
ground. They follow the same parabolic trajectory (d) t = 10 s
and are found to be on the same horizontal level,
13. Two particles are projected from the same point on
separated by a distance of 1 m, 2 s after the second
the ground in two mutually perpendicular planes with
particle was projected. Assume that the horizontal
same initial speed u at same angle of 60° above the
component of their velocities is 0.5 ms–1. Which
horizontal. If acceleration due to gravity be g, the
of the following statements will be true about their
time instant at which their velocities are inclined at
motion?
60° with each other is/are
(a) The horizontal range of the parabolic path is __
÷
​ 3 ​u __ u
3 m. (a) ​ ____​ (b) (​÷3 ​ – 1) ​ ___​
(b) The maximum height for the parabolic path is 2g 2g
45 m. __
(​÷3 ​ + 1) u
(c) The total time of flight in the parabolic path for (c) ​ _________​ (d) never attained.
2g
each particle = 4 s.
14. A particle is projected at an angle q from the ground
(d) The horizontal range of the parabolic path is
with speed u (g = 10 ms–2):
6 m.
(a) if u = 10 ms–1 and q = 30°, then after 2 s velocity
11. Ball I is thrown towards a tower at an angle of
becomes perpendicular to initial velocity.
60° with the horizontal with unknown speed (u). __
At the same moment ball II is released from the (b) if u = 10  ​÷3 ​ ms–1 and q = 60°, then after 3 s
top of the tower as shown. Balls collide after 2 s, velocity makes an angle larger than 90° with
the direction of initial velocity.

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 Telegram @unacademyplusdiscounts
__
(c) if u = 10 ​÷ 3 ​ ms–1 and q = 60°, then after 17. Two particles move in a uniform gravitational field
0.5 s velocity becomes perpendicular to initial with an acceleration g. At the initial moment the
velocity. particles were located at one point and moved with
(d) if u = 10 ms–1 and q = 30°, then velocity never velocities 3 ms–1 and 4 ms–1 horizontally in the oppo-
becomes perpendicular to initial velocity during site directions.
its flight. (a) their velocity vectors will become perpendicu-
15. The direction of velocity of a par- lar at a moment when the two particles are not
ticle at time t = 0 is as shown on the same horizontal line.
in the figure and has magnitude (b) their velocity vectors will become perpendicular
u = 20 ms–1. The acceleration of at a moment when speed of the first particle is
particle is always constant and larger than that of the second particle.
has magnitude 10 ms–2. The angle (c) after their velocity vectors become perpen-
between its initial velocity and dicular the separation between the particles
acceleration is 127° (take sin 37° = 3/5). begins to decrease.
(a) The instant of time at which acceleration and (d) Separation between the particles when their
velocity are perpendicular is 0.6 s. velocities are perpendicular is nearly 2.4 m.
(b) The instant of time at which speed of particle 18. A rifle fires bullets with an initial speed of 550 ms–1.
is least is 1.2 s. The rifle is aimed directly at the centre of a target
(c) The instant of time t at which acceleration of (‘bull’s eye’) that is 50 m away and at the same height
particle is perpendicular to its displacement as the rifle.
(displacement from t = 0 till that instant t) is 5
2.4 s. (a) the bullet misses the bull’s-eye by ____ ​   ​ m.
121
(d) None of these. (b) the bullet hits the bull’s eye.
16. A person standing on the ground (x–y plane) proj- (c) the angle q above the horizontal at which the
ects two bodies A and B with velocities (30 + 40 rifle should be aimed to hit the bull’s-eye exactly
+ 100 ) ms–1 and (60 + 80 + 50 ) ms–1. z-axis is is 0.046°.
vertical. Select the correct statement. (d) the angle q above the horizontal at which the
rifle should be aimed to hit the bull’s-eye exactly
(a) A has a greater range on ground than B.
is 0.44°.
(b) B has a greater range on ground than A.
(c) A spends more time in air than B.
(d) B spends more time in air than A.

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Worksheet 3
1. A ball is projected from the ground. 4s after its
projection, it passes through a point P and it falls
back on the ground 5s after crossing the point P.
Assuming acceleration due to gravity to be 10 ms–2,
find the height of the point P above the ground.
2. A stone is thrown from the top of a vertical column
at a certain angle above the horizontal. It strikes the
ground twice as far as it would have struck if it had Find
been thrown from the bottom of the column with (i) Y component of the initial velocity and
the same initial velocity. In this latter case the stone
(ii) X component of the initial velocity.
would fly for a time T = 2 s. Find the height of the
column. 7. AB is an inclined roof and a body is projected from
the origin towards the
3. A ball is fired from point P, with an initial speed roof as shown in the fig-
of 50 ms–1 at an angle of 53° with the horizontal. At ure. Find the value of h
the same time, a tall wall AB at 200 m from point for which body will just
P, starts moving towards P with a constant speed of touch the roof. (q = a
10 ms–1. = 45° and u = 10 ms–1,
g = 10 ms–2)
8. A particle is projected upwards with a velocity of
100 ms–1 at an angle of 60° with the vertical. Find
the time when the particle will move perpendicular
to its initial direction, taking g = 10 ms–2.
9. Two projectiles are fired simultaneously as shown
(a) Find the time when the ball collides with in the figure. The one thrown at 45° has an initial
wall AB. speed of 20 ms–1.
Another projec-
(b) Find the coordinate of point C, where the ball
tile is thrown at
collides taking point P as the origin.
60° to the hori-
4. A ball is thrown horizontally from a cliff such that it zontal and the
strikes the ground after 5 s. The line of sight from the two projectiles
point of projection to the point of hitting makes an collide in mid-air. Find the time when they collide.
angle of 37° with the horizontal. What is the initial
velocity of projection? 10. A projectile is thrown at a velocity of 50 ms–1 towards
an inclined plane from the ground such that it strikes
5. A rocket is launched at an angle of 53° to the the inclined plane
horizontal with an initial speed of 100 ms–1. It moves perpendicularly. The
along its initial line of motion with an acceleration angle of projection
of 30 m s–2 for 3 s. At this time, its engine fails and of the projectile is
the rocket proceeds like a free body under gravity. 53° with the hori-
Find zontal and the inclined plane is inclined at an angle
(i) the maximum altitude reached by the rocket. of 45° to the horizontal.
(ii) total time of the flight. (a) Find the time of flight.
6. Two graphs of the same projectile motion (in the xy (b) Find the distance between the point of projec-
plane) projected from the origin are shown. x-axis is tion and the foot of the inclined plane.
along the horizontal direction and y-axis is vertically 11. A hemispherical sprayer with many small holes is
upwards. Take g = 10 ms–2. placed in a lawn at a distance d from a wall. The
sprayer ejects water in every possible direction with

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the same speed. Prove that the portion of the wall that m is thrown from the top of AB horizontally with
is hit by water jets is bounded by a parabola whose a velocity of 10 ms–1 towards CD. Simultaneously
R2 – d2 another object of mass 2 m is thrown from the top of
height above the ground is ​ ______​ and breadth is CD at an angle of 60° to the horizontal towards AB
______ 2R
2 ​÷ R2 – d2 ​. R is the maximum range of water jet with the same mag-
nitude of initial
ejected by the sprayer. velocity as that of
12. A particle is projected from the ground level. It just the first object. The
passes through upper ends of vertical poles A, B two objects move
and C of height 20 m, 30 m and 20 m, respectively. in the same vertical
The time taken by the particle to travel from B to plane and collide in
C is double of the time taken from A to B. Find the midair calculate the
maximum height attained by the particle from the distance d between
ground level. the towers.
___
13. A particle is projected with a velocity 2 ​÷gh ​ so that 17. A body starts falling from height H. When it is at a
it just clears two walls of equal height h which are at height h above the ground, it hits an inclined plane.
a distance of 2h from each other. Calculate the time As a result of this impact the direction of velocity
of passing between the walls. of the body becomes horizontal. For what value of
14. A small squirrel jumps from pole 1 to pole 2 in the h/H the body will take maximum time to reach the
horizontal direction. Squirrel is being observed by an ground?
observer at the origin. What is the average velocity 18. Two particles are projected simultaneously with the
vector of the squirrel? Express the average velocity same speed v in the same vertical plane with angles
vector as vx + vy + vz . of elevation q and 2q, where q < 45°. At what time
will their velocities be parallel.
19. Two particles are projected from the same point
with velocities v and 2v in making an equal angle
q = 30° with the hori-
zontal in directions as
shown in the figure. Find
the separation between
them when their velocity
vectors become mutually perpendicular. The accel-
15. A particle is projected horizontally with speed u eration due to gravity is g.
from point A, which is 10 m above the ground. The 20. Two small balls A and B are launched in the same
particle hits the inclined vertical plane simultaneously, with the same speed
plane perpendicularly at of 20 ms–1. Ball A is projected horizontally and ball
point B [ g = 10 ms–2]. B has an initial velocity at an angle q above the line
(a) Find the horizontal joining A and B as shown. The projectiles collide in
speed with which mid-air at time t. Find t.
the particle was
projected.
(b) Find the length OB along the inclined plane.
16. Two towers AB and CD are situated a distance d
apart as shown in the figure. AB is 20 m high and
CD is 30 m high from the ground. An object of mass

6.37
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Answers Sheet
Your Turn
__
1. ​÷5 ​ ms–1 2. 5 m 3. Average speed = 3.14 ms–1, Average velocity = 2ms–1

4. No 5. 2 ms–2 6. (i) y = 2x ; (ii) y2 + x2 = 1, circle

y2 x3
7. ​ __ ​ + y – __
​   ​ = 0 8. s 4m ; a = 37.8 ms–2 9. 60 m
2 3
u4
10. 15° or 75° 11. q = 45° 12. 8.36 m 13. p __​  2 ​
__
g
14. 100 m, 250 m 15. 16 ​÷2 ​ m 16. (i) 11.8 m (ii) 18.9 m (iii) 16.4 ms–1
17. 3.16 ms–1 towards the coach 18. 4.5 m, 2.75 m 19. (i) 30° (ii) 10.8 m
_________
__ a ____ __
÷
21. ​ (1 + b2) ___
0
20. 20​÷3 ​ ms–1; 60° ​  ​ ​ 22. u = ​÷182 ​ ms–1 23. 4​÷2 ​ s
2c
________

÷
8(H – h) ___ __
24. (ii) ​ ​ _______
g ​ ​ 25. 0.4 s 26. t = ÷
(​ 10 ​ + 1)s, v = ÷
10​ 3 ​ ms–1
27. h = 44.1 m, v = 29.4 ms–1 28. 60 ms–1 29. (i) 20 s (ii) 1125 m
–1
30. 25 m 31. (i) 12.8 ms (ii) 2.18 m 32. 4.26 m
33. b = 90° – a 34. T = 1s, R = 5 m

Worksheet 1
1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (b) 4. (c) 5. (b) 6. (d) 7. (b) 8. (a) 9. (b)
10. (a) 11. (c) 12. (c) 13. (c) 14. (b) 15. (c) 16. (a) 17. (d) 18. (c)
19. (a) 20. (a) 21. (b) 22. (d) 23. (b) 24. (b) 25. (a) 26. (d) 27. (c)
28. (c) 29. (d) 30. (b) 31. (c) 32. (a) 33. (c) 34. (c) 35. (a) 36. (a)
37. (c) 38. (a) 39. (c) 40. (c) 41. (a) 42. (c) 43. (a) 44. (b) 45. (b)
46. (a) 47. (a)

Worksheet 2
1. (a,b,c) 2. (a,c) 3. (b,c) 4. (b,c,d) 5. (b) 6. (b) 7. (a,b,c,d) 8. (d) 9. (b,c,d)
10. (a,b) 11. (a,b,c) 12. (b.d) 13. (b,c) 14. (b,d) 15. (b,c) 16. (c) 17. (d) 18. (a,c)

Worksheet 3
1. 100 m 2. 40 m 3. (a) t = 5 s, (b) P(150, 75)
4. 100/3 ms–1 5. (i) 367.2 m (ii) 18.8 s 6. 5 ms–1, 4 ms–1 7. 10 m
__
÷
​ 3 ​
8. 20 s 9. ​ _______
__ __  ​ s 10. (a) t = 7 s, (b) 175 m
​÷6 ​ – ÷
​ 2 ​ 
__

÷
125 h
12. ​ ____
 ​ m 13. 2 ​ __
​ g ​ ​ 14. – 50 + 50 – 5 ms–1
4 __ __

÷
2
__ 20 ​÷2 ​
_____
15. (a) u = 10  ​ ​   ​ ​ s, (b) ​   ​  m 16. 17.32 m 17. H/2
3 3
__
v sin q (2 ​÷7 ​)v2 10
18. ​ ______________
    ​ 19. d = _______
​  g ​ 20. t = ___
​  __ ​ s
g(cos q – cos2 q) ÷
​ 3 ​

6.38
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Chapter 7

Kinematics of circular motion

“I shall now recall to mind that the motion of the heavenly bodies is circular, since the motion appropriate to a sphere
is rotation in a circle”.
—Nicolaus Copernicus

1. Introduction Dq = q2 – q1
Unit of angular displacement is radian (rad).
Circular motion is a special kind of plane motion which has
immense practical importance. Motion of the moon around
the Earth, motion of the Earth around the Sun and motion
of the Sun around the centre of our galaxy, all are nearly
circular. A car on a circular track, a kid on a ferry wheel,
motion of a pendulum bob — all can be explained if we
know the physics of circular motion.
Circular motion is a special case of plane motion and its
description is easier in plane polar co-ordinate system. In this
system of co-ordinates, we have a fixed reference line (OX) If co-ordinate r of the particle is not changing, it is
with a fixed point (O) on it, known as the pole. Co-ordinates moving in a circle. In this case, the distance travelled (D s)
of a point P are (r, q) where r is the distance of the point by the particle is equal to the length P1P2.
from the pole (O) and q is the angle made by line OP with Ds = r Dq
the reference line OX. We
When a particle makes
can take q to be positive if
one full rotation while
measured in anticlockwise
moving on a circle, we say
sense with respect to OX
its angular displacement is
and negative when it is mea-
2p radian (and NOT zero,
sured in clockwise sense.
as you may think). If a par-
When a particle moves in such a way that its co-ordinate ticle completes n rotations,
r changes but q does not change, it is moving in a straight its angular displacement is
line. When the particle moves such that only q changes and Dq = n ◊ 2p radian.
r remains fixed, we say that it is moving in a circle of radius
r with its centre at O. In general, addition of two successive angular displacements
is not commutative. Due to this reason, a finite angular
displacement is not regarded as a vector though it has a sense
2. Angular Terms in Kinematics of direction. However, infinitesimally small angular displace-
ment is a vector. For a particle moving in a fixed plane
2.1 Angular displacement there is no harm in considering angular displacement (finite
Consider a particle moving along an arbitrary path in a plane. or infinitesimally small) to be a vector quantity. Angular
O is the pole and OX is the reference line of our plane polar displacement is an axial vector. Its direction is along the
co-ordinate system. As the particle moves from a point P1 to rotation axis perpendicular to the plane of rotation. Consider
P2, its angular displacement (Dq) with respect to point O is a particle moving in a circle in the xy plane. If the par-
defined as the change in its angular co-ordinate (q). ticle moves from P1 to P2 traversing a small angle dq, the
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7.2 Mechanics I

​__›
direction of angular displacement vector (​dq​) is along the Average angular acceleration over an interval (D t) of time
z-direction. When right hand fingers are curled in the sense is defined as
​__›
of rotation, the thumb points in the direction of dq​
​ . change in w
Dw
·aÒ = ___
​  ​ = ​ ___________
  
    ​
Dt time interval

Unit of angular acceleration is rad s–2

In Short
(i) For a particle moving in a plane, the angle through
which its position vector rotates is known as its
angular displacement (Dq).
dq
(ii) Angular velocity (w) = ___
​  ​ and
dt
dw d2q
2.2 Angular Velocity angular acceleration (a) = ___ ​  ​ = ___
​  2 ​
dt dt
Consider a particle moving in a plane with its co-ordinate (iii) w and a are axial vectors. They are directed
q changing with time. Angular velocity (w) of the particle perpendicular to the plane of the figure.
with respect to point O is defined as
dq
w = ___​  ​
dt
...(i) 3. Unit Vectors In Plane Polar
where dq is an infinitesimally small angular displacement Co-ordinate System
in the time interval dt. It will be helpful to understand velocity and acceleration in
circular motion if we express unit
vectors used in the polar system
in terms of cartesian unit vectors
( and ). Unit vectors used in the
polar co-ordinates are:

= a unit vector
_
​›
along
increasing ​r ​
_
​›
q = a unit vector perpendicular to ​r ​ in the direction
of increasing q.
Angular velocity (w) is​__also a vector and its direction is
› By resolving along the x- and y-directions we get
same as the direction of dq​
​ .
Unit of w is (radian per second) rad/s or rad s–1. Some = (1 . cos q) + (1 . sin q) = (cos q) + (sin q) ...(A)
common units are rpm (revolutions per minute) or rps (revo-
lutions per second). Expression (i) gives the instantaneous
angular velocity. Average angular velocity (·wÒ) over an
interval of time D t is given by
Angular displacement ___Dq
·wÒ = ​ __________________
      
 ​ = ​  ​
Time interval Dt
2.3 Angular Acceleration
Rate of change of angular velocity is defined as angular By resolving q along the x- and y-directions we can
acceleration (a). write
dw q = (– 1.sin q) + (1.cos q)
a = ​ ___​
dt ​___›
_
​› fi q = (– sin q) + (cos q) …(B)
Direction of ​a​ is in the direction of dw​
​ . If w is increasing
then a and w both will have the same direction. a will Notice that both and q change as q changes. These two
be opposite to w if angular velocity w is decreasing in unit vectors are not constant, in general.
magnitude.
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Kinematics of circular motion 7.3

4. Relation Between velocity And If a particle moves in a circle with changing speed, its
motion is said to be non-uniform circular motion.
Angular Velocity In Circular
Motion In Short:
Consider a particle moving in a (i) Speed of a particle in uniform circular motion is
circle of radius r. It undergoes an given by v = wr, where w is its angular speed with
angular displacement q in time t. respect to centre of the circle and r is the radius.
Distance travelled by the particle (ii) Direction of velocity is tangential to the path.
is 2p
(iii) w = 2p f = ___
​  ​, where T is the time period and f is
T
s = rq the frequency of circular motion.
Speed of the particle is
ds dq Example 1 Find the angular speeds of the second hand
v = __
​  ​ = r ___
 ​  ​ = rw. and the minute hand of a watch.
dt dt
Velocity of the particle is tangential to the path along the Solution
unit vector q. Therefore, in vector notation we can write Concepts
​_›
​v ​ = (rw) q Hands of a watch move uniformly. For uniform motion
If we take w as a vector directed perpendicular to the​_plane dq Dq
​_› ​__› › w = ___
​  ​ = ___
​  ​
of rotation then, velocity can be written as ​v ​ = ​w​ × ​r ​ dt Dt
For the seconds hand:
Dq 2p rad p
w = ___
​  ​ = ​ ______ ​ = ​ ___ ​ rad s–1
Dt 60 s 30
For the minute hand:
Dq 2p rad
w = ___
​  ​ = ​ ______  ​
Dt 60 min
2p p
It is important to note that the velocity of a particle in = _______
​   ​ rad s–1 = _____
​   ​ rad –1
circular motion is a variable quantity because the direction 60 × 60 1800
of the velocity vector keeps changing. Note that angular speed does not depend on the length
of the hands of the watch.
5. Uniform circular motion
Example 2 Find the speed of the tip of the hour hand of
A particle moving in a circle is said to perform uniform a watch. The tip of the hour hand is 1cm long.
circular motion if its speed remains constant. since v = w r,
the angular speed (w) is also constant in a uniform circular Solution
motion. Concepts
For a particle moving uniformly in a circle, the time v = wr
required to complete one rotation is called time period (T).
For the hour hand, angular speed is
2p rad 2p
T = ​ ________  ​ = ___
​   ​s Dq 2p rad 2p
w rad s–1 w w = ___
​  ​ = ​ ______ ​ = ___________
​      ​ rad s–1
Dt 12 h 12 × 60 × 60
2p
fi w = ___
​  ​ The tip of the hand rotates in a circle of radius 1 cm.
T
Frequency (f) of rotation is defined as the number of 2p
\ v = wr = ___________
​      ​ × 1 cm s–1
completed rotations per unit time. 12 × 60 × 60
1 w = 1.45 × 10–4 cm s–1
f = ​ __​ = ___
​  ​
T 2p
fi w = 2p f. Example 3 A particle rotating in a circle of radius 5 cm
completes 1.5 turns in 3 s. Find its angular displacement and
Unit of frequency is s–1 also known as hertz (Hz). average angular velocity.
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7.4 Mechanics I

Solution Angular displacement Dq = 1.5 × 2p = 3p rad. Solution

Average angular velocity is Concepts
dq

Dq 3p rad
·wÒ = ​ ___​ = ​ ______
 ​ = p rad s–1 Angular speed (w) is given by ​ ___​ (see figure) and we
Dt 3s dt
dy
___
know ​  ​ = v.
Example 4 Angular displacement of a particle moving in dt
a circle of radius 0.5 m depends on time as q = (0.75 t2 + Therefore, we need to find a relation between y and q
2t) rad. Find the speed of the particle at t = 1 s and average and then differentiate it with respect to time.
angular velocity in the interval 0 £ t £ 1 s.
y
tan q = __​   ​
Solution 8
dq __ 1 dy
Concepts fi sec q ​  ​ = ​   ​ ___
2 ___
​  ​
dq dt 8 dt
w = ___
​  ​  and v = wr
dt dq v
fi ​ ___​ = ______
​  ​
dt 8.sec2q
q = 0.75 t2 + 2t
At t = 2 s, y = 4 × 2 = 8 m
dq 8
w = ___
​  ​ = 1.5 t + 2 \ tan q = __
​   ​ = 1
dt 8
Instantaneous angular speed at time t = 1 s is obtained fi q = 45°
by putting t = 1 s in above expression. dq v 4 1
fi w = ___
​  ​ = ​ ______​ = ​ __________
    ​ = ​ __ ​ rad s–1.
dt 8.sec2q 8 × sec245° 4
\ w = 1.5 × 1 + 2 = 3.5 rad s–1
Example 6 A particle moves
Speed at t = 1 s is uniformly in a circle with a time
period of 0.314 s. At time t = 0
v = wr = 3.5 × 1 = 3.5 ms–1 the particle is on the x-axis at A
(see figure) and is moving anti-
Average angular velocity is
clockwise. Radius of the circle
Dq is 1.0 m. Write velocity of the
·wÒ = ​ ___​
Dt particle at time t = 3.17925 s
Dq is angular displacement in the interval 0 £ t £ 1 s. using unit vector and .

At t=0 Solution
q1 = 0 Concepts
​_›
At t=1 ​v ​ = (wr) q
is given by equation (B) in article 3
q2 = 0.75 × 12 + 2 × 1 = 2.75 rad.
Angular displacement in time t is
\ Dq = q2 – q1 = 2.75 rad
2p
Dq = w.t = ​ ___​ ◊ t
T
Dq 2.75 rad p
\ ·wÒ = ___
​  ​ = ​ _______
Dt 1s
 ​ = 2.75 rad s–1 = ​ 
2p
_____
0.314 (
 ​ × 3.17925 = 20.25 p = ​ 20 p + __ )
​   ​  ​ rad
4
Example 5 A particle moves along The particle has completed 10 full rotations and moved
p
a straight line AB at a constant veloc- further by an angle of ​ __ ​ rad. Position of the particle is as
ity of 4 ms–1. O is a fixed point at a 4
distance of 8 m from the line AB. shown in the figure.
At time t = 0, the particle lies on
the foot of the perpendicular drawn
from O on the line AB. Find the
angular speed of the particle with
respect to point O at t = 2 s.
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Kinematics of circular motion 7.5

1__ 1
2p 2 × 3.14
Speed v = wr = ​ ___​ ◊ r = ________
​   ​ × 1 = 20 ms–1 = – ​ ___  ​   + ___
​  __
T 0.314 ÷
​ 2 ​ ÷
​ 2 ​

( )
Velocity vector at this instant is ​_› 1__ 1
​_› \  ​v ​ = 20 ​ – ​ ___  ​   + ___
​  __ ​
​v ​ = v q ÷
​ 2 ​ ÷
​ 2 ​
__ __
p p
and (
q = ​ – sin __ ) ( )
​   ​  ​  + ​ cos ​ __ ​ 
4 4
= (–  10​÷2 ​  + 10​÷2 ​  ) ms–1.

Your Turn
Q.1 What is the ratio of the angular speeds of the minute Q.7 A disc of radius R = 5 m is rotating uniformly with
hand and the hour hand of a watch? a frequency of 10 Hz. Velocity of a point p on the disc is
Q.2 A flywheel of diameter 2 m has an angular speed of directed towards a point A on the circumference and the
120 rpm. Find the linear speed of a point on its rim. distance PA is 3 m. Find the speed of point P.

Q.3 Angular displacement of a particle moving in a circle

of radius r = 1 m is given by q = t + 0.75 t2
(i) Find its angular velocity at time t = 2 s.
(ii) Find its average angular velocity in the first 2 s of
its motion.
Q.4 The Moon goes around the Earth once in 27.3 days.
Find the ratio of the frequency of revolution of the Moon
around the Earth to the frequency of revolution of the Earth
around the Sun.
Q.8 A particle moves in a circular path and its angular
Q.5 Radius of the Earth is R = 6400 km. Find the speed velocity changes with time t as
of a man standing on the surface of the Earth at a latitude
of 60°.
3 t3
w = __
​   ​ t2 – __
​   ​
Q.6 A spot light S is rotating in a horizontal plane about 2 3
point O in clockwise sense with Find the angular displacement of the particle in the first
a constant angular velocity of 2 s of motion.
0.2 rad s–1. It throws light on a
vertical wall XX that is at a dis- Q.9 “In a uniform circular motion, angular velocity of a
tance d = 3 m from O. Find the particle remains constant but its velocity keeps changing.”
speed of spot p of the light on Is this statement true?
the wall at the instant q = 60°.

​_›
6. Acceleration in Circular Motion ​v ​ = (rw) q
Using the u.v rule for differentiation, we get
Velocity vector of a particle _
​›
moving in a circle keeps d​v ​ dq dw
\ ​ ___​ = (rw) ___
​  ​ + r q ___
​  ​ ...(i)
changing direction. It means dt dt dt
that the particle always expe- From equation (B) in article 3, we have
riences an acceleration. When
the particle is at P, its veloc- q = – (sin q) + (cos q)
ity is
dq dq dq
\ ​ ___​ = – (cos q) ​ ___​  – (sin q) ___
​  ​
dt dt dt
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7.6 Mechanics I

[ ]
dq dq This is the magnitude of acceleration.
\ ​ ___​ = – (cos q + sin q ) w ​  ​ ___​ = w ​ From the diagram it is clear that when
dt dt
Dq Æ 0, the other angles of the triangle
dq
fi ​ ___​ = – ◊ w ...(ii) will approach 90°. This implies _that the
dt ​ _›
direction of change in velocity (​Dv​) in a
Put this in (i) to get very small interval of time is perpendicu-
​_› ​_›
d ​v ​
___ d (rw) lar to the instantaneous
​__› velocity (​v A​ ) and acceleration is in
​  ​ = – (rw2) + _____
​  ​ q
dt dt the direction of Dv​
​ .
​_› dv
\ ​a ​ = – (rw2) + ​ ___
​  ​  ​ q
dt ( ) ...(iii) 6.2 Acceleration in Non-Uniform Circular Motion
Acceleration of a particle in circular motion, in general, is
6.1 Acceleration in Uniform Circular Motion given by the equation (iii) above.
In uniform circular
dv
motion, speed is constant.
​_› dv
​a ​ = – (rw2) + ​ ___
​  ​  ​ q
dt ( )
Hence ___
​  ​ = 0. The two components of acceleration are:
dt
​_›
\ ​a ​ = – (rw2) (i) Radial component
v2
It means acceleration of the particle is towards the ar = rw2 = __
​ r ​ (towards the centre)
centre (opposite to ) and its magnitude is w2r. This accel-
This component of acceleration is perpendicular to
eration is known as the centripetal acceleration or radial
the velocity, towards the centre and is responsible
acceleration.
for changing the direction of the velocity.
v2
ar = rw2 = __​ r ​ ...(iv) (ii) Tangential component
We can derive the expression of centripetal acceleration dv
in an alternate way as given below. at = ___
​  ​ = rate of change of speed.
​_› dt
Velocity of the particle when it is at point A is ​v A​ . In a Tangential acceleration is directed along the tangent.
small time interval D t it moves to point B and its velocity It is in the direction of the velocity if the particle
_
​› _
​› _
​›
becomes ​v ​B. Note that |​v ​A| = |​v ​B| = v (say) if the motion is is speeding up and is opposite to the velocity if the
uniform. particle is slowing down.
Tangential acceleration is related to angular acceleration
(a) as
dv d (rw) dw
at =  ​ ___​ = ​ ______​ = r ​ ___​ = r ◊ a
dt dt dt
​_› ​_› ​_›
In vector form ​a ​t = ​a​ × ​r ​
Magnitude of acceleration in non-uniform circular motion
is given by
______
a = ​÷​a2​r​ ​ + a​ 2​t​ ​
​_› ​_›
The second
_
​ _›
figure shows ​v ​A and ​v ​B drawn with their tails ____________

÷( ) ( )
together. ​Dv​ is the change in velocity as the particle moves v2 2 dv 2
 ​ = ​ ​​ __
​ r ​  ​​ ​ + ___
​​   
​  ​  ​​ ​ ​
from A to B. As the particle rotates through an angle Dq, dt
the velocity vector also rotates through Dq.
____________ _______
When
_
​ _›
Dq is small, the length of the arrow represent- = ​÷(rw​2)​2​ + (ra)
    ​ = r ​÷w + a  ​
2 4 2
​_›
ing​_​Dv​ will be Dq times the length of arrow representing ​v ​A
›
or ​v ​B
\ Dv = vDq
Dv Dq
fi ​ ___​ = v ___
​  ​
Dt Dt
Dv
___ Dq
fi ​limit
   ​ ​  ​ = imit​ ___
v  ​l   ​  ​
Dt Æ 0 D t Dt Æ 0 Dt
fi a= vw = rw2 [ v = rw]
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Kinematics of circular motion 7.7

4
The direction of the resultant acceleration makes an angle ar = a cos q = 5 ◊ ​ __ ​ = 4 ms–2
5
f with the radius where
2
at v
tan f = ​ __ fi ​ __
r ​ = 4
ar ​
In short fi v2 = 4 × 4
(i) In uniform circular motion, acceleration is always fi v = 4 ms–1
directed towards the centre of the circle and is known
3
as the radial or centripetal acceleration. Its magnitude at = a sin q = 5 ◊ ​ __ ​ = 3 ms–2
v2 5
is constant and is equal to ​ __
r ​ = rw
2

(ii) In non-uniform circular motion, apart from the radial

acceleration, there is a tangential acceleration. It is
equal to the rate of change of speed (= rate of change
of the magnitude of velocity). Resultant acceleration
is the vector sum of ar and at.

Example 7 Find the acceleration of a man standing at the

equator of the Earth. Consider only rotation of the Earth ​_›
Since at is opposite to ​v ​, hence speed is decreasing at a
about its axis. Radius of the Earth is 64 km. Is it correct
rate of 3 ms–2
to say that this acceleration is in the vertically downward
direction? dv
\ ​ ___​ = – 3 ms–2
dt
Solution
Concepts Example 9 A car is at rest on a circular racing track of
radius 64/3 m. It begins to move and its speed increases at
Motion is uniform circular with angular speed a constant rate of 4 ms–2.
Find the magnitude of acceleration of the car-
2p
w = ___
​   ​ rad/hr (i) immediately after it begins to move.
24
2p (ii) 2 s after it begins to move.
w = ___________
​      ​ rad s–1
24 × 60 × 60
Solution
Acceleration in uniform circular motion is towards the
centre and has magnitude given by Concepts

( 2p
ar = rw2 = 6400 × 103 × ​​ ___________
​ 
2
)
    ​  ​​ ​
24 × 60 × 60
Immediately after the start, the speed of the car is zero.
When the speed is zero there is no radial acceleration. At a
= 0.034 rad s–1. later time when the car has some finite speed, there is radial
acceleration, apart from the tangential acceleration.
Example 8 A particle is moving in a circle of radius
r = 4 m. At a given instant it is at point P and the direction (i) Immediately after start, v = 0
of its velocity and acceleration are as shown in the figure. v2
\ ar = __
​ r ​ = 0
The magnitude of acceleration
is 5 ms–2 and it makes an angle dv
at = ​ ___​ = 4 ms–2
()
3
of q = tan–1 ​ __
​   ​  ​ with the radius.
4
dt
\ Acceleration of the car
Find the speed of the particle and in the beginning is 4 ms–2
the rate of change of its speed at in the tangential direction.
the given instant. (ii) After 2 s the speed of the car
Solution will be
Concepts v = 2 × 4 = 8 ms–1
Component of acceleration along the radius is centripetal
v2 v2 82
acceleration equal to ​ __ ar = ​ __
r ​=
___
​   ​ = 3 ms–2
r ​ and its component along the 64
___
​   ​
tangent is equal to the rate of change of speed. 3
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7.8 Mechanics I

at = 4 ms–2 10
______ ______
Angular speed w = ___
​ p ​ rotations per second(rps)
\ a = ​÷​a2​r​ ​ + a​ 2​t​ ​ ​ = ​÷32 + 42 ​ = 5 ms–2
10
Example 10 A fan of diameter 1.5 m is rotating with = ​ ___
p ​ × 2p = 20 rad s
–1

10
an angular speed of ​ ___
p ​ rotations per second. when it is 1.5
switched off, it begins to retard at a rate of 10 rad s–2. Find Radial acceleration, ar = rw2 = ___
​   ​ × 202 = 300 ms–2
2
the acceleration of a particle at the tip of the fan immediately
after the fan is switched off. 1.5
Tangential acceleration, at = ra = ___
​   ​ ◊ 10 = 7.5 ms–2
2
Solution
______ ___________
Concepts \ a = ​÷​a2​r​ ​ + a​ 2​t​ ​ ​ = ​÷(300)2 +   
7.52 ​
______
at = r a and a = ÷
​ ​a2​r​ ​ + a​ 2​t​ ​ ​. Immediately after switching
______
10 = ​÷90056 ​ 300 ms–2
off, the speed of the fan remains ___
​ p ​ rps.

Your Turn
Q.10 A body is moving in a horizontal circle of radius 3 m Q.14 A vector of magnitude a is rotated by a small angle
making 60 rpm. Find its centripetal acceleration. dq. Find the magnitude of change in the vector.
Q.11 A particle moves in a circle of radius 2 m. At a given Q.15 A particle is moving in the xy plane with its
–2
moment its acceleration is 40 ms making an angle of 37° co-ordinates changing with time as
with the radius. At this instant find
x = a sin wt and y = a cos wt
(i) the angular acceleration of the particle.
where a and w are positive constants. Show that the
(ii) the angular velocity of the particle. acceleration of the particle is directed towards a fixed point.
Q.12 Find the maximum constant speed a car can have Find the co-ordinates of the fixed point.
if its acceleration is not to exceed 7.5 ms–2 while going Q.16 Three particles (A, B, and C) are moving in circles
around a circular track of radius 200 m. of same radii. At an instant the magnitude of acceleration of
Q.13 A particle is moving along a circle of radius r, At an all the particles is the same. Which particle had the highest
instant its speed is 20 ms–1 and it is decreasing at a rate of 3 speed at the instant shown? Which particle is speeding up?
ms–2. Acceleration of the car at this instant makes an angle
of 37° with the radius of the circle on which the particle
lies. Find r.

7. Circular Motion with Constant fi w = w0 + a t ...(i)

Angular Acceleration This equation is similar to v = u + at in linear
kinematics.
Let w0 =
initial angular velocity
dq
a =
constant angular acceleration Now ​ ___​ = w
dt
q =
angular displacement
dq
w =
angular velocity. fi ​ ___​ = w0 + a t
dt
dw
​ ___​ = a q t t
dt w t
fi ​Ú​ ​dq = wo ​Ú​ ​dt + a ​Ú​ ​t dt
\ dw = a dt fi ​Ú ​  ​ dw = a Ú​ ​ ​dt o o o
wo o
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Kinematics of circular motion 7.9

1
fi q = w0t + ​ __ ​ a t2 ...(ii) \ q = q1 + q2 = 330 p rad
2
1
The equation is similar to s = ut + ​ __ ​ at2. Eliminating t 330p
Number of rotations = _____
​  ​ = 165.
2 2p
between (i) and (ii) we get

w2 = ​w2​0​​  + 2 a q ...(iii) Example 12 A particle starts moving along a circle of

radius 2 m and its angular velocity (w) changes with time
[Similar to v2 = u2 + 2as] as shown in the graph.
Using (i) and (ii) one can also prove that

(w0 + w
q = ​ ​ ______
2 )
 ​  ​ t ...(iv)

It is easy to show that angular displacement in the nth

second is
1
qn = w0 + __​   ​ (2n – 1) a ...(v)
2
Note: If a is not a constant, then one has to start from one
of the following equations to find the values of the angular (i) Find the maximum radial acceleration of the particle
parameters. during its course of motion.
dq (ii) Find the maximum magnitude of acceleration
w = ___
​  ​  and
dt experienced by the particle during its course of
dw dw motion.
a = ___
​  ​ = w  ​ ___
dt dq
​
(iii) Find the angular displacement of the particle in 8 s
of its motion.
Example 11 A fan starts from rest and acquires a steady
angular speed of 30 rps in 3 s. Assume the acceleration of Solution
the fan to be uniform. Concepts
(i) Find the angular acceleration of the fan after it
starts. (i) Radial acceleration is maximum when w is
maximum.
(ii) How many rotations does the fan make in 7 s?
(ii) Total acceleration is maximum when both ar and
Solution at are maximum.
Concepts dw
(iii) a = ___
​  ​ = slope of w vs t graph
dt
For the first three seconds the fan is uniformly accelerated.
dq
___
Thereafter, it moves with a constant angular speed. (iv) ​  ​ = w
dt 8
(i) w0 = 0 fi q = ​Ú​  ​ w dt = Area under w vs t graph
w = 30 rps = 30 × 2p = 60 p rad s–1 0

Use w = w0 + a t (i) wmax = 50 rad s–1

fi 60p = 0 + a × 3
\ ar max = r ◊ ​w2​max​ = 2 × 502 = 5000 rad s–1
–2
fi a = 20p rad s (ii) Tangential acceleration at = r a
(ii) Angular displacement in the first 3 s will be at is maximum when a is maximum. From the
q1 = w0t + __
1
​   ​ a t2 graph a (= slope) is maximum in the time interval
2 0 < t < 2 s.
1
__ 50
= 0 + ​   ​ × 20p × 32 = 90p rad amax = ___
​   ​ = 25 rad s–2
2 2
From time t = 3 s to t = 7 s the fan moves with a constant fi at max = 50 rad s–2
angular speed of 60p rad s–1. Hence, displacement in next
4 s is Just before t = 2 s, radial and tangential components
q2 = 4 × 60p = 240 p rad of acceleration are maximum.
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7.10 Mechanics I

___________
amax = ​÷​a2​r max​ + a​   dq 3t2
fi ​ ___​ = ___
2
\ ​t max​ ​   ​
_____________ dt 2
 ​ = ​÷(5000)2 +   
(50)2 ​ 3
qo 2
fi ​Ú​ ​ ​dq = __
​   ​ Ú​ ​ ​t2 dt
= 5000.2 rad s–2 o 2 0
(iii) q = area under w vs t graph
= __
1
​   ​ × 50 × (8 + 3) = 275 rad.
2
fi
3 t3 2
q0 = __
2 3 0 []
​   ​ ​​ __
​   ​  ​​ ​​  = 4 rad

For 2 s £ t £ 6 s we have
Example 13 A particle moves in a circular path starting w = 6 rad s–1 (constant)
from rest. Its angular acceleration is given as
\ Angular displacement in ths interval 2 s £ t £ 6 s
a = 3t rad s–2 for 0 £ t £ 2 s
q1 = 6 × 4 = 24 rad
= 0 for t > 2 s
\ At the end of 6 s, total angular displacement is q =
(i) Find the angular velocity of the particle at t = 6 s. q0 + q1 = 28 rad.
(ii) Find the angular displacement of the particle in the
first 6 s of its motion. Example 14 A spinning wheel is brought to rest from
a speed of 100 rpm by applying brakes over a period of
Solution 5 s. Assume that the brakes produce a uniform angular
Concepts retardation.
For the first 2 s of motion, the particle is moving with a vari- (i) Find the angular deceleration of the wheel.
able acceleration and thereafter it has no acceleration. (ii) Find the number of revolutions made by the wheel
during the braking.
(i) For 0 £ t £ 2 s we have
Solution
dw
___
​   ​ = 3t Concepts
dt
fi dw = 3t dt It is not always necessary to convert rpm in rad s–1.
w t
Here we will convert rpm in rps because time is given
fi ​Ú​ ​ ​dw = 3 ​Ú​ ​t dt in second.
o o
2
(i) w = w0 – a t where a = angular retardation
3t
fi w = ___
​   ​ ...(i) w0 – w 100 rpm – 0
2 2 fi a = ​ ______​ = ​  __________  ​
  
2 t 5s
At t = 2 s, w = 3 × __
​   ​ = 6 rad s–1
2 100 rev ___ 1
= ​ _______  ​ ◊ ​   ​ = 0.33 rev s–2.
There is no angular acceleration after t = 2 s. 60 s 5 s
\ Angular speed at t = 6 s is same as the angular 1
(ii) q = w0t – __
​   ​ a t2
speed at t = 2 s. 2
(ii) For 0 £ t £ 2 s
3t2
= ____
100 rev
​   ​ ___
60 s
​   ​ ◊ 5s – __
1 rev
​   ​ ​ 0.33 ___
2 ( )
​  2 ​  ​ ◊ 25 s2
s
w = ___
​   ​ = 4.21 rev.
2

Your Turn
q1
Q.17 A fan is switched on and it moves with a constant an additional angle q2. Find __
​   ​.
q2
angular acceleration to acquire its full speed of 10 rps in
10 s. Find the angular acceleration of the fan.
Q.19 Tangential acceleration of a point moving in a circle
Q.18 A particle starts from rest and moves along a circle is 0.5 ms–2. Find the total acceleration of the point at the
with uniform angular acceleration. In the first 2 s it rotates 1
through an angle q1 and in the next 2 s it rotates through instant it has covered ___
​   ​ th of the circle after starting from
10
rest.
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Kinematics of circular motion 7.11

Q.20 A particle is rotating in a circle of radius r = 1 m. (iv) Find the number of rotations that the particle makes
It’s angular velocity (w) changes with time according to the before coming to rest.
graph shown in the figure. Q.21 A particle is moving in a circle of radius 1 m with
an angular speed w0. It begins to slow down and comes to
rest at t = 10 s. During the period 0 £ t £ 10 s it experienced
an angular retardation (a) that changed with time as shown
in the graph. Find w0.

–2
a (rad s )

10

(i) Find the angular acceleration of the particle at t = 2 s.

(ii) Find the centripetal acceleration at t = 2 s
(iii) Find the acceleration of the particle at t = 2 s O t (s)
10

8. Radius of Curvature Example 15 A particle is thrown from the ground with

a velocity u making an angle q  (> 45°) with the horizontal.
Radius of curvature of a curve at a point is the radius of Find the radius of curvature of the path at a point where the
the circular arc which best approximates the curve at that velocity of the particle makes an angle q with the vertical.
point. Consider an arbitrary curve as shown in the figure. A
small segment of the curve at A fits perfectly on a circle of Solution
radius rA. rA is called the radius of the curvature at point A
Concepts
and centre of the circle (O) is called the centre of curvature
at point A. (i) Horizontal component of the velocity of a pro-
jectile never changes. This helps us in calculating
speed at the instant velocity makes an angle q with
the vertical.
(ii) We assume that the projectile is negotiating a circle
of radius R at the desired point. Component of
acceleration perpendicular to velocity (i.e. tangent)
v2
is normal acceleration. It is equal to ​ __​
R
Similarly, rB and rC are the radii of curvature at points B
and C respectively. A sharp bend (like at point C) means a Let the velocity be v at point P making an angle q with
smaller radius of curvature and a broad turn means a larger vertical
radius of curvature.
vx = ux
Inverse of radius of curvature is called the curvature of
the curve. fi v sin q = u cos q fi v = u cot q
Any curve is thought to be made by smoothly joining Acceleration of the projectile is g (Ø) component of
small segments of many circles. If a particle is negotiating acceleration perpendicular to velocity (i.e., tangent) is
a curve, we can assume that it is moving on a circle at g sin q.
any point of time. The acceleration of the particle can be
We consider a small segment of the parabolic path at P
resolved into two components — radial and tangential. The
to be a circle of radius R.
tangential acceleration (at) is equal to the rate of change of
speed and the radial component (the component of accelera- v2
__
​  ​ = g sin q
v2
tion perpendicular to the tangent) is equal to __​  ​ where v is R
R
speed of the particle and R is the radius of curvature of v2 u2 cot2 q
fi R = ______
​  ​ = _______
​ 
g sin q g sin q
​
the path.
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7.12 Mechanics I

Tangential acceleration is
​_› ​_›
​a ​ ◊ ​v ​ 3______
+4 7
at = ____
​  _​ › ​ = ​ _______  ​ = __
​   ​ = 1.4 ms–2
​v ​ ÷​ 3 + 4  ​ 5
2 2

  

Example 16   A particle is moving in an xy plane and its

velocity and acceleration at an instant is given by
​_› ​_›
​v ​ = (3 +4 ) ms–1 and ​a ​ = ( + ) ms–2 Normal acceleration is calculated as
Find the radius of curvature of the path of the particle at a​ 2​n​​  + a​ 2​t​ ​ = a2
the given instant. __
fi ​a​2n​​  + (1.4)2 = (​÷2 ​)2
Solution
Concepts fi an = 0.2 ms–2
(i) Tangential component of acceleration is given by
​_› _
​› v2
​a ​ ◊ ​v ​ \ ​ __​ = 0.2
at = ____
​  ​_› ​ R
​v ​
52
(ii) Using a2 = ​a2​n​​  + ​a2​t​ ​ we can get the normal compo- fi ​ __​ = 0.2 fi R = 125 m.
R
nent of acceleration.

Your Turn

Q.22 A particle is projected with a speed of 10 ms–1 at an Q.24 A roller coaster moves on a track shown in the
angle of 60° to the horizontal. Find the radius of curvature figure while maintaining a constant speed. At which of the
of the path indicated points will it have the largest acceleration?
(i) at the top point of the trajectory.
(ii) at a point where the velocity vector makes an angle
of 30° with the horizontal.
Q.23 A particle is moving in a plane. At a particular
instant its speed is 10 ms–1 and its acceleration makes an
angle of 37° with its velocity. Radius of curvature of the
path at the instant is 20 m. Find the rate of change of speed
of the particle.

9. Relative angular velocity

Consider​_ a particle P moving in a plane with its velocity
›
vector (​v ​) making an angle f with the unit vector at some
instant. The two components of velocity can be interpreted
as:
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Kinematics of circular motion 7.13

dr
vr = v cos f = __
​  ​ and However, let’s solve the problem using the relation learnt
dt in the previous article.
dq
vq = v sin f = r ​ ___​ = rw
dt
vq
w = ​ __
r ​ is the angular speed of the particle about point O.
Now consider two par-
ticles A and B moving in
a plane. At an instant
​_›
their
​_›
velocities are ​v ​A and ​v ​B
respectively and the sepa-
ration between them is r.
​_› ​_› ​_›
Velocity of B with respect to A is ​v ​BA = ​v ​B – ​v ​A.
In reference frame of A we can write angular velocity of Velocities of A and B are
B as perpendicular to the line AB.
vBA q
w = ​ ____
r ​ vB = w (2r)
vA = w ◊ r

\ Velocity of B relative to A,
perpendicular to A, is

= vB – vA = wr.
It is easy to see that wr
\ wBA = ___
​  a ​ = w.
vBAq = vB sin b – vA sin a
Example 18 In the figure shown, find the angular velocity
In short
dr
Angular velocity of B relative to A is of B relative to A. Also find __
​  ​.
dt

wBA
|
​​
​
velocity of B with respect to A in a
     ​ ​ 
direction perpendicular to AB ​
= ​ _________________________________
    
AB
  ​
|
Example 17 Particles A and B are
rotating in concentric circles of radii Sol: Magnitude of relative velocity of B relative to A in
r and 2r respectively. Both rotate direction perpendicular to AB is
anticlockwise with the same angular
speed w about the centre O. O, A and = 8 sin 30° – (– 6 sin 30°)
B lie on a straight line (see figure). Find
the angular speed of B relative to A. = 7 ms–1

7
Solution \ wBA = ___
​   ​ = 0.7 rad s–1
10
Concepts
Relative angular speed is not zero. An observer sitting dr
__
​  ​ = relative velocity along AB
on A sees that B is located below him (as shown in the dt
figure). After some time he will find B to his right, then he
will find B above him, thereafter B will appear to his left. = 6 cos 30° – 8 cos 30°
When the rotation is complete, he again finds B below him. __
This simple observation is enough to answer the problem. = – ​÷3 ​ ms–1
Angular speed of B about A is w.
Negative sign indicates that separation r is decreasing.
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7.14 Mechanics I

Your Turn
Q.25 A car is running at a speed of 20 ms–1 on a straight (i) When the car is at A (see the figure) the dog begins
highway. A dog is standing at a point D at a distance d = 20 m to run towards it (along DA) at a speed of 5 ms–1.
from the highway. Find the angular speed of the car relative to the dog
immediately after it begins to run.
(ii) When the car is at B, the dog begins to run along
DB. Find the angular speed of the dog relative to the
car at this instant.

Miscellaneous Examples

Example 19 A particle ​moves in a circle of radius R so Example 20 Particle A moves on a circle of radius r and
_
that its position vector (​r›​) relative to a point O on the another particle B moves along a tangent XX to the circle.
circumference of the circle rotates with a constant angular Both particles were initially at point P and B moves with a
velocity w. Find the speed and the magnitude of accelera- uniform velocity u. A moves such that the line joining B to A
tion of the particle. always passes through the centre (O) of the circle. Calculate
acceleration of A as a function of q (see figure).
Solution
Concepts
v = wR correctly gives the speed of the particle if w is
the angular speed about the centre of a circle. We need to
find the angular speed about the centre using the geometry
of the situation.

Solution
Concepts
(i) Angular speed of both A and B with respect to O

(dq
is same ​ w = ___
​  ​  ​
dt )
From the figure it is evident that (ii) Angular velocity of B
f = 2q Component of u perpendicular to OB
= ​  ______________________________
       ​
OB
df dq ______
fi ​ ___​ = 2 ​ ___​
dt dt (iii) Acceleration of A is ÷
​ ​a2​r​ ​ + a​ 2​t​ ​ ​

fi w0 = 2w where w0 = angular speed about the Angular speed of A = Angular speed of B about O
centre (C). u cos q ______
u cos q __ u
\ w = ______
​  ​ = ​  ​ = ​ r ​ cos2q
OB r sec q
\ Speed of the particle is v = w0R = 2wR
Radial acceleration for A is
Since speed is a constant, acceleration has a radial u2
component only. ar = w2r = __​ r ​ cos4q
v2 Tangential acceleration for A is
\ a = __
​  ​ = 4 w2R towards the centre.
R
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Kinematics of circular motion 7.15

d (wr) u dq fi [ln w​]ww​ 0​ = – kt

at = _____
​  ​ = r ◊ ​ __r ​ ◊ 2 ◊ cos q (– sin q) ​ ___​
dt dt
fi [ln w – ln w0] = – kt
= – (2 u cos q ◊ sin q) w
fi ( ) w
ln ​ ___
​   ​  ​ = – kt
w0
2u2
= – ​ ___ 3
r ​ sin q cos q
w
fi ​ ___ ​ = e– kt
w0
______
\ aA = ​÷​a2​r​ ​ + a​ 2​t​ ​ ​ fi w = w0 e– kt
_____________
u2 This is the required expres-
= ​ __
r ​ cos q ​÷4 sin q + cos
3 2 2
  q
sion. Graph of w vs t is as shown.
u2
_________ Note that w Æ 0 when t Æ •
 ​ = __
​ r ​ cos3q ​÷1 + 3 sin2q ​
Example 23 A wheel is rotating at an angular speed of
5 rad s–1. A bead A is moving outward along a spoke with
Example 21 A car is moving on a circle of radius R with
a velocity of 3 ms–1 relative to the
a constant speed. Another car is moving uniformly along a
wheel. When the spoke makes an
straight line (in the plane of the circle) with speed equal to
angle of q = 37° with the x axis, the
that of the first car. The magnitude of relative acceleration
distance of the bead from the centre
of the two cars is a. Find the speeds of the two cars.
(origin) is r = 1 m. Find the velocity
of the bead relative to the ground at
Solution
this instant in terms of unit vectors
Concepts and .
The car moving along the straight line has no acceleration.
Therefore, relative acceleration is equal to the acceleration Solution
of the car moving along the circle. Concepts
​_›
Acceleration of the car moving uniformly along the circle ​v ​ = (vr) + (vq) q where
is
dr
v2 vr = __
​  ​  and vq = rw.
a = __
​  ​ towards the centre. dt
R
v2
Magnitude of relative acceleration = __ ​  ​ For the bead, radial component of velocity is
R
v__2 ___ vr = 3 ms–1
\ ​  ​ = a fi v = ÷ ​ aR ​ And
R
vq = wr = 5 × 1 = 5 ms–1
Example 22 Magnitude of angular deceleration of a par- ​_›
ticle rotating in a circle is proportional to its angular speed \ ​v ​ = 3 + 5q
(w). Assume proportionality constant to be k and find an
expression for w as a function of time. It is given that angular But = cos q + sin q   = cos 37° + sin 37°
speed at time t = 0 is w0. Also draw a graph showing the
4 3
variation of w with time. = __
​   ​ + ​ __ ​
5 5
Solution
and q = – sin q   + cos q  
Concepts
dw
___ 3 4
​  ​ = – kw = – ​ __ ​  + ​ __ ​ 
dt 5 5
Negative sign indicates that w decreases with time.

dw
___
​  ​ = – kw
(
​_› 12
\ ​v ​ = ​ ___
5
9
​   ​   + __ )
​   ​  ​ + (– 3 + 4 )
5
dt
= ​( – ​ __ ​   + ___
​   ​  )​ ms
dw 3 29
fi ​ ___ ​ = – k dt
–1
w 5 5
w t
dw
fi ​Ú ​  ​ ​ ___ ​ = – k ​Ú​ ​dt
wo w o
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7.16 Mechanics I

v2 u2 – ​ __ 2s
|at| = |ar| = __
​  ​ = __
Example 24 A point moves with deceleration along a circle ​
​  ​ ​e​ R
of radius R such that at any instant its tangential and radial R R
______ __
accelerations have the same magnitude. At time t = 0, speed ​ 2 ​ u2 – ​ __
÷ 2s
a = ​÷​a2​t​ ​ + a​ 2​r​ ​ ​ = ​ _____
​
​ \  ​ ​e​ R ​
of the particle is u. R
(i) Find the speed of the point as a function of time (t). Example 25 Three men stand on the vertices of an
(ii) Find the speed as a function of the distance travelled (s). equilateral triangle of side length L. They begin to walk
(iii) Find the acceleration of the point as a function of s. towards each other at a constant speed v. Man A always
follows B (i.e., he is headed along the line AB), B follows
Solution C and C follows A.
Concepts (i) Take the centroid of the original triangle as the origin
(O), distance of man A from O as r and q as the
| |
dv
​ ___
dt
retarding.
dv
dt
dv
​  ​  ​ = – ​ ___​ since ​ ___​ itself is negative as the particle is
dt
angular displacement of the man with respect to O.
Write the trajectory equation of the man in terms of
dv dv r and q.
To get relation between v and s, write ___ ​  ​  as v  ​ ___​ (ii) Calculate the time required for the men to meet.
dt ds
dv Solution
(i) |at| = – ​ ___​
dt Concepts
v__2 It is easy to see from symmetry that the three men will
ar = ​  ​
R meet at the centroid of the triangle. At any point in time
dv v2 three men will be located on the vertices of an equilateral
given – ​ ___​ = ​ __​ ...(i) triangle. The triangle will go on reducing in size and ulti-
dt R
v t
mately converge into a point at the centroid.
dv 1
fi ​Ú​ ​ ___
​  2 ​ = – ​ __​ ​Ú​ ​dt (i) Figure shows the position of the three men at any
u v R o
instant. We will consider the motion of man A who is
1 1 t
fi ​ __ v ​ –
__
​ u ​ = __
​  ​ having his instantaneous velocity directed towards B.
R This velocity always makes an angle 30° with OA.
1 __t 1 1 ut +R
fi ​ __ __ __ ______
v ​ = ​ R ​ + ​ u ​  fi ​ v ​ = ​  Ru

Ru u
 ​ fi v = ​ ______ ​ = ______
​  u ​ ...(ii)
R + ut 1 + __ ​  ​ t
R
This is v as a function of t.
dv v2
(ii) From (i) – ___
​  ​ = __
​  ​
dt R

dv v2 dv 1
fi – v  ​ ___​ = ​  ​  fi ​ ___
__ __
v ​ = – ​ R ​ ds
ds R
v s
dv 1
fi ​Ú​ ​ ​ ___ __
v ​ = – ​ R ​  ​Ú0​ ​ds \ vr = – v cos 30°
u
__
s dr ÷
​ 3 ​
fi – ​ __​
[ln ​v]​vu​ ​  = fi ​ __​ = – ___
​   ​ v ...(i)
R dt 2
s
fi ln v – ln u = – ​ __​ And vq = v sin 30°
R
s dq v
fi
v
ln ​ __ ​ = –  ​ 
s
__ ​  fi ​ 
v
__ ​ = ​
e
– ​ __​
​ R​ fi r  ​ ___​ = __
​   ​ ...(ii)
u R u dt 2
s
– ​ __​ Dividing (i) by (ii) we get
fi v = u ​e​ R ​
dr __
(iii) At any given point of time ____
​  ​ = – ​÷3 ​
r dq
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Kinematics of circular motion 7.17

dr __
fi ​Ú ​ ​__
r ​ = ÷
– ​ 3 ​ ​Ú ​ ​dq
__
fi ln r = – ​÷3 ​q + C
__
fi ln r – ln r0 = – ​÷3 ​q [C = ln r0 = a constant]
r __
fi ln  ​ __
r0  ​ = ÷
– ​ 3 ​ q
__
r
fi ​ __ – ​÷3 ​ q
r0 ​ = e​ ​ ​ Solution
__
fi r = r0 ​e​ –​÷3 ​ q
​ Concepts
(i) Velocity of water coming out of the nozzle is
when q = 0, r = r0
obtained by vector addition of velocity of the
\ r0 is the initial separation nozzle (wr) to the relative velocity.
between O and A. (ii) Vertical component of velocity of water decides
L the time of flight. And range is horizontal velocity
r0 = ___
​  __ ​ multiplied with the time of flight.
÷
​ 3 ​
__
L Relative velocity of water
\ r = ___ ​ ÷3 ​ q​
​  __ ​ ​e– ​
÷
​ 3 ​ ​_›
​v ​r = v cos 60° + v sin 60°
Path of a man is as shown in the figure. __
v ÷
​ 3 ​
= ​ __ ​   + ​ ___ ​ v  
2 2

Velocity of the nozzle = wr

Three men always lie on an equilateral triangle as shown
in the other figure. = 2 × 0.3
(ii) Velocity component of A towards O is always v cos 30° = 0.6
__
÷
​ 3 ​ Velocity of water relative to the ground is
= v ___
​   ​ ​_› ​_›
2 ​v ​g = ​v ​r + 0.6
__
÷
​ 3 ​dr __
fi ___– ​ __​ =
​   ​ v (a constant). v ÷
​ 3 ​
2 dt = __
​   ​ + 0.6 + ​ ___ ​ v
L 2 2
\ r will reduce to zero from ___ ​  __ ​ in a time given
÷
​ 3 ​ For v = 3 ms–1
by
__ ​_›
L /​÷3 ​ ___2L ​v ​g = 1.5 + 0.6 + 2.6
t = ______
​  __ ​ = ​  .​
​ 3 ​/2 v 3v
÷ Horizontal and vertical components of this velocity are
_________
Example 26   A water sprinkler is rotating uniformly with vH = ​÷1.52 + 0.62 ​ = 1.6 ms–1
an angular speed of w = 2 rad s–1. Water comes out at an
angle of 60° with the horizontal from nozzles which are vV = 2.6 ms–1
located at a distance of 30 cm from a rotation axis. The
nozzles are at height of 20 cm from the ground. Speed of 2vv 2______ × 2.6
\ Time of flight T = ​ ___
g ​ = ​  10 ​ = 0.52 s
water coming out from the nozzle is varying between 3 ms–1
to 6 ms–1 relative to the nozzle. What area of the lawn will Water will be sprinkled in a circle of radius
be watered?
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7.18 Mechanics I

r1 = vH ◊ T = 1.6 × 0.52 = 0.83 m. q0 to

For v = 6 ms –1 fi
o o
( ___ kt
Ú​ ​ ​ ​dq = ​Ú​ ​ ​ ​​ ​÷w0 ​ – __ )2
​   ​  ​​ ​ dt
2
​_›


​v ​g = 3 + 0.6
_______
vH = ​÷9 + 0.36 ​ = 3.05 ms–1
+ 5.2
fi
2
[(
___ kt 3 t0
q0 = – ​ ___​ ​​ ​​ ​÷w0 ​ – __
3k )]
​   ​  ​​ ​  ​​ ​ ​
2 0

vv = 5.2 ms–1
2vv
3k
2 ___
= – ​ ___​ ​ ​​ ​ w0 ​ – [(÷ kt0 3
___
)
​   ​  ​​ ​ – w03/2 ​
2 ]
T = ​ ___
g ​ = 1.04 s 2​÷w0 ​
___
Putting t0 = _____
​  ​
Water gets sprinkled in a circle of radius r2 = vH ◊ T k
= 3.05 × 1.04 = 3.16 m. 2 2 ​w3/2
​0​  ​
q0 = – ​ ___​ [0 – w ​0​  ​] = ​ _____
​ 3/2
Since speed changes from 3 ms–1 to 3k 3k
6 ms–1, the entire area lying between q0 2​w3/2
​0​  ​ w0
k
r1 and r2 gets watered  ​ \ ·wÒ = __
​   ​ = _____
​  ​× _____
​  ___ ​ = ___
​   ​
t0 3k 2​÷w0 ​ 3
\ A = p r​ 2​2​​  – p r​ 2​1​​ 
Example 28 A balloon begins to rise from the ground sur-
= 3.14 [(3.16)2 – (0.83)2] face and its ascension rate is constant equal to u. Due to wind
it gathers a horizontal velocity component vx = ky where k is
= 3.14 [9.98 – 0.69] = 29.17 m2 a positive constant and y is the height of ascent. Find
(i) the trajectory equation of the balloon.
Example 27  A particle is moving in a circle with an angular
(ii) the tangential acceleration, total acceleration and
speed w__
0. It begins to decelerate with the angular retardation normal acceleration of the balloon.
a=k÷ ​ w ​ where k is a positive constant and w is the instan-
taneous angular speed. Find the average angular velocity of Solution
the particle averaged over the whole time of rotation. Concepts
Solution (i) We will express x and y co-ordinates of the balloon
as a function of time and then will eliminate time
Concepts
(t) between them to get the trajectory equation.
We need to find the time (t0) in which the particle will ______
dv
come to rest. Then we will calculate the angular displace- (ii) speed v = ​÷​v2​x​ ​ + v​ 2​y​ ​ ​  and at = ​ ___​
ment (q0) it undergoes in this time. dt
qo dy
·wÒ = ​ __ ​ (i) ​ ___​ = u (= a constant)
t0 dt
__ y t
dw
Given: – ​ ___​ = k ​÷w ​ fi ​Ú​ ​dy = u ​Ú​ ​dt
dt o o
w t
dw fi y = ut ...(i)
fi ​Ú ​ ​ ​ ___
__ ​ = – k ​Ú​ ​dt
wo ÷ ​ w​ o

__
fi ​​[ 2 ​÷w ​ ]w​w0​ = – k t

fi (
___ kt 2
w = ​​ ​÷w0 ​ – __
​   ​  ​​ ​
2 ) ...(i)

The particle stops when w = 0

___ kt
fi ​÷w0 ​ – ​ __ ​ = 0
2
___
2​÷w0 ​
fi to = _____
​  ​ Also,
k vx = ky
From (i)
dx
fi ​ ___  ​ = k ut

dq
___
( ___
​  ​ = ​​ ​÷w0 ​ –
dt
kt 2
__
)
​   ​  ​​ ​
2
dt
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Kinematics of circular motion 7.19

x t
Since ay = 0
fi ​Ú​ ​  dx = ku ​Ú​ ​  t dt dvx
o o \ Total acceleration is a = ax = ___
​  ​
dt
ku t2
fi x = ​ ____
 ​ ...(ii) dy
2 fi a = k  ​ ___​ = ku.
dt
Eliminating‘t’ between (i) and (ii) we get

( )
2u
y2 = ​ ___
​  ​  ​ x
k
Normal acceleration can be calculated as:

a​ 2​n​​  + a​ 2​t​ ​ = a2
This is the required trajectory equation.
______ k4 y2
(ii) Speed at any instant is v = ​÷​v2​x​ ​ + v​ 2​y​ ​ ​  k2 u2 – _________
fi ​a​2n​ = ​   ​

( )
2 2
k____
y
________ ​ 1 + ​  2 ​  ​
 ​ fi v=÷
​ u2 + k2 y2 ​ u

dv k2 y dy k2y u
\ at = ___
​  ​ = _________
​  ________  ​ ___
​  ​ = _________
​  ________  ​ k2u4 + k4 y2 u2 – k4 y2 u2
dt ​ u2 + k2y2 ​ dt ​ u2 + k2 y2 ​ = ​  ___________________
     ​
  
÷ ÷ u2 + k2 y2
k2y
fi at = _________
​  _______  ​ fi
ku2
an = _________
ku
    ​ = ​ _________
​  ________     ​
________

÷
k2 y2
÷
​ 1 + ____
​  2 ​ ​ ​÷u + k y  ​
2 2 2 2 2
k____
y
​ 1 + ​  2 ​  ​
u u
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Worksheet 1
​__›
1. A stone is tied to the end of a string and is whirled 7. A particle is moving ​_in a circle of radius r. ​w​ is its
›
in a horizontal circle of radius 80 cm at a constant angular velocity and ​r ​ is its position vector relative
speed. If the stone makes 14 revolutions in 25 s, the to the centre of the circle. Centripetal acceleration of
magnitude of acceleration is the particle can be expressed as
​__› _
​ › _​ _› ​__› _​ _› _ ​__› _
​ › _​ _› ​__› _​ _› _
(a) 20 ms–2 (b) 12 ms–2 (a) (​w​◊​r ​)w​
​›
​ – (​w​◊​w​)​r ​ (b) (​w​◊​r ​)w​
​ + (​w​◊​w​)​r ​
​›

(c) 9.8 ms–2 (d) 8 ms–2 ​__› _

​› _
​› ​__› _​ _› _
​› ​__› _
​ › _​ _› ​__› _​ _› _
​› ​__›
2. The second’s hand of a watch has length 6 cm. Speed (c) (​w​◊​r ​)​r ​ – (​w​◊​w​)​r ​ (d) (​w​◊​r ​)w​
​ – (​w​◊​w​)​r ​ × w​
​
​_›
of end point and magnitude of difference of velocities 8. A particle is moving in a circle. ​v ​ is its velocity
​_›
at two perpendicular positions will be and ​a ​ is its acceleration. Rate of change of speed of
(a) 2p and 0 mms–1 the particle can be expressed as
__ ​_› ​_› ​_› ​_›
(b) 2 ​÷2 ​ p and 4.44 mms–1 ​a ​◊​v ​ ​a ​◊​v ​
(a) ​ ____
​ › ​
_ ____
(b) ​  ​ ›  ​
_
__
(c) 2 ​÷2 ​ p and 2p mms–1
​v ​ ​| ​v ​ |​
__ ​_› ​_
› ​_› ​_› ​_›
(d) 2p and 2 ​÷2 ​ p mms–1 ​a ​ × ​v ​ (​a ​ × ​v ​) ◊​v ​
(c) ​ _____ ​_›  ​
__________
(d) ​  ​_›  ​   
3. A particle is kept fixed on a turntable rotating
|​ ​v ​ |​ ​| ​v ​ |​
9. A ring of radius 2 m rotates
uniformly. As seen from the ground, the particle goes
about the z-axis in an xy plane
in a circle, its speed is 20 cms–1 and acceleration
as shown in the figure. At a
is 20 cms–2. The particle is now shifted to a new
certain instant the acceleration
position so as to make the radius half of the original
of a point P on the ring is
value. The new values of speed and acceleration will
be (6 – 8 )ms–2. The angular
acceleration of the ring and
(a) 10 cms–1, 10 cms–2 (b) 10 cms–1, 80 cms–2
the angular velocity at that
(c) 40 cms–1, 10 cms–2 (d) 40 cms–1, 40 cms–2 instant are
4. A wheel having a diameter of 3 m starts from rest (a) – 3 rad s–2, – 2 rad s–1,
and accelerates uniformly to an angular velocity of (b) 3 rad s–2, 2 rad s–1
210 rpm in 5 s. Angular acceleration of the wheel (c) – 4 rad s–2, – 2 rad s–1
is
(d) 3 rad s–2, – 2 rad s–1
(a) 1.4 p rad s–2 (b) 3.3 p rad s–2 10. A particle is performing circular motion of radius
–2
(c) 2.2 p rad s (d) 1.1 p rad s–2 1 m. Its speed is v = (2t2) ms–1. What will be the
5. For a particle performing circular motion, w, v, r magnitude of its acceleration at time t = 1 s?
represent the angular velocity vector, velocity vector __ __
and position vector of the particle relative to the (a) 2 ​÷2 ​ ms–2 (b) 4 ​÷2 ​ ms–2
centre respectively. Centripetal acceleration is given (c) 2 ms–2 (d) 8 ms–2
by 11. A particle starts from rest and moves on a circle
(a) a × r (b) w × v with a constant angular acceleration of 3 rad s–2.
An observer starts his stopwatch at a later time
(c) a × v (d) w × r
and records that the particle covers an angular dis-
6. A car is travelling on a circular road of radius r. It is placement of 120 rad at the end of 4 s. How long
increasing its speed at a rate of ‘a’ ms–2. Its accelera- after the particle had started to move the observer
tion at the instant its speed is v will be started his stopwatch?
________ ________
(a) 8 s (b) 12 s

÷( ) ÷( )
v2 v4
(a) ​ ​ __
​  2 ​ – a2   ​ ​ (b) ​ ​ ​ __2 ​ + a2   ​ ​ (c) 9.9 s (d) 18 s
r r
12. A particle is moving in a circular path. The
________ ________ acceleration and velocity of the particle at a certain

÷( ) ÷( )
​_› ​_›
v4 v2 moment are ​a ​ = (4 + 3 ) ms–2 and ​v ​ = (8 – 6 )
(c) ​ ​ __
​  2 ​ – a2   ​ ​ (d) ​ ​ ​ __2 ​ + a2   ​ ​
r r ms–1. The motion of the particle is

7.20
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(a) Uniform circular motion (a) p /(6w) (b) 5p /(3w)
(b) Accelerated circular motion (c) 5p /(6w) (d) None
(c) Decelerated circular motion 17. Pick up the only correct statement in the following
(d) None of the above (a) A body having a constant velocity can still have
13. Two particles are going in a uniform helical and a varying speed
spiral path separately (as shown in the figure) with (b) A body having an acceleration of constant
constant speeds. magnitude can move with a constant speed
(a) The velocity of the particle is constant in both (c) Speed of a body will definitely change if it has
the cases. non zero acceleration
(b) The acceleration of the particle is constant in (d) A body starting from rest cannot move in
both the cases. a straight line if it experiences a variable
(c) The magnitude of acceleration is constant in (A) acceleration
and decreasing in (B). 18. A wind power generator uses a two-bladed propeller
(d) The magnitude of acceleration is decreasing mounted on a pole at a height of 20 m. The length
continuously in both the cases. of each propeller blade is
12 m and the period of the
motion of the propeller is
1.2 s. Tip of the upper pro-
peller breaks off when the
propeller is vertical. The
fragment flies off horizon-
tally. It strikes the ground
at point P. The distance
from the base of the pole
14. A particle starts from rest and performs circular to point P is closest to
motion of radius 1m. The tangential acceleration of (a) 120 m (b) 130 m
the particle at any time t is given by at = t ms–2. The (c) 140 m (d) 160 m
radial acceleration of the particle at t = 2 s is 19. A racing car is travelling along a straight track at a
(a) 1 ms–2 (b) 2 ms–2 constant speed of 40 ms–1. A camera man is record-
(c) 0.5 ms–2 (d) 4 ms–2 ing the event from a distance of 30 m directly away
15. Particle A is moving along a straight line with con- from the track as shown in the figure. In order to keep
stant velocity v as shown in the fig- the car under view in the position shown, the angular
ure. Another particle B is moving speed with which the camera should be rotated, is
in a circle with same speed v. The
line and the circle are in the same
plane. At the moment when A is
diametrically opposite to B, the
radius of curvature of path of B
as seen by A will be (Radius of the circle is R)
(a) R (b) R/2
(c) 2R (d) 4R
16. A body moves in a circle of radius R having centre at
the origin, with an angular velocity w in the x-y plane
as shown in the figure. Another (a) 4/3 rad
__
s–1 (b) 3/4 rad s–1
body moves parallel to the y-axis (c) 8/3 ​÷3 ​ rad s–1 (d) 1 rad s–1
with constant velocity (Rw /2). 20. A body is thrown with the velocity v0 = 10 ms–1 at
At time t = 0, both objects are at an angle of a = 37° from the horizontal ground. Find
(R, 0). The time t, when the first the angular velocity of the body as observed from the
body has velocity only along the point of projection at the time of landing.
positive x-axis with respect to
the second body is

7.21
 Telegram @unacademyplusdiscounts
5 5 (a) increasing (b) decreasing
(a) ​ __ ​ rad s–1 (b) ​ __ ​ rad s–1
8 6 (c) constant (d) can’t be say
5
(c) ​ __ ​ rad s–1 (d) None of these 23. A table fan, rotating at a speed of 2400 rev/min,
3 is switched off and the resulting variation of the
21. A particle moves in the xy – plane. The position vector revolutions per minute with time is shown in the
​_›
of the particle at any time t is ​r ​ = [(2t) + (2t2) ] m. figure. The total number of revolutions of the fan
q is the angle which its velocity vector makes with before it comes to rest is
the positive x-axis.The rate of change of q at time
t = 1 s is
3 2
(a) ​ __ ​ rad s–1 (b) ​ __ ​ rad s–1
7 5
2
(c) ​ ___ ​ rad s–1 (d) None of these
17
22. At a particular instant velocity and acceleration of a
particle are (– + + 2 ) ms–1 and (3 – + ) ms–2
respectively. At the given instant particle's speed is (a) 280 (b) 140
(c) 70 (d) 210

7.22
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Worksheet 2
1. A block is placed on a horizontal table which is rotat- (c) Speed of the particle at time t = 2 s is
ing about its vertical axis. Table rotates such that the 3.14 ms–1.
particle does not slide. Arrows 1, 2, 3, 4 show the (d) Centripetal acceleration of the particle at time
possible direction of acceleration of the block at the t = 2 s is less than 10 ms–2.
instant shown in the figure. Which of the followings 4. Position vector of a particle moving in an x-y plane
are correct? _
​›
at time t is ​r ​ = a (1 – cos w t) + a sin w t .
(a) Path of the particle is a circle of radius a and
centre at (a, 0).
(b) Acceleration of the particle has magnitude
w 2a.
(c) Path of the particle is an ellipse of major axis 2 a
and minor axis a.
(d) Path of the particle is a straight line.
(a) When the table is rotating clockwise with a 5. Which of the following statements are true for a
constant angular speed the acceleration is along moving body?
the direction shown by arrow 3. (a) if its speed changes, its velocity must change
(b) When the table is rotating clockwise with a and it must have some acceleration.
decreasing angular speed the acceleration is (b) if its velocity changes, its speed must change
along the direction shown by arrow 2. and it must have some acceleration.
(c) When the table is rotating clockwise with an (c) if its velocity changes, its speed may or may not
increasing angular speed the acceleration is change, and it must have some acceleration.
along the direction shown by arrow 2. (d) if its speed changes, but direction of motion does
(d) Just after the clockwise rotation begins from not change, its velocity may remain constant.
rest the direction of acceleration is represented 6. A body moves in a circular path of radius R with
by arrow 1. deceleration so that at any moment of time its
tangential and normal accelerations are equal in mag-
2. A particle is moving on a circular path of radius nitude. At time t = 0, the velocity of the body is v0.
1.5 m at a constant angular acceleration of 2 rad s–2. The velocity of the body at some later instant can be
At the instant t = 0, angular speed is 60/ p rpm. expressed as
(a) Angular speed of the particle at time t = 2 s is v0
6 rad s–1. (a) v = ________
​   ​ at time t
(b) Angular displacement of the particle at time ( v0t
​ 1 + ___ )
​  ​  ​
R
t = 2 s is 8 rad. –s
___
​  ​
(b) v = v0 ​e​R ​after it has moved a distance s.
(c) Rate of change of speed of the particle at time
t = 2 s is 3 ms–2. (c) v = v0e–sR after it has moved a distance s.
(d) At time t = 2 s the angular acceleration of the (d) None of these
particle suddenly becomes zero. The accelera-
7. Consider a merry-go-round. Figure (i) shows its
tion of the particle immediately after this event
angular speed (w) as a function of time t. In this
is 54 ms–2.
graph a positive value of w indicates counter-clock
3. A particle moves clockwise in a circle of radius 1m wise rotation. The scalar angular acceleration (a) is
in an xy plane with centre at (1, 0) m. It starts from defined as the rate of change of the angular speed
rest at the origin at time t = 0. Its speed increases at with time.
p
()
the constant rate of ​ __
​   ​  ​ ms–2.
2
(a) It takes 2 s for the particle to travel halfway
(i)
around the circle.
(b) It takes more than 1s for the particle to travel
first quarter of the circle.

7.23
 Telegram @unacademyplusdiscounts
(b) Rate of __ change of speed is never greater
÷
​___
3 ​
than ​   ​ g.
(ii) 2
(c) Radius of curvature of the path first decreases
and then increases.
(d) Curvature of the path first decreases and then
increases.
9. The figure below illustrates a stretch of a horizontal
(iii) road. The markers (++) indicate distance along the
road separated by 10 m. At ‘A’ a car enters the stretch
of the road. It accelerates uniformly upto point C and
Which of the followings are correct? then continues moving at a constant speed. The dots
(a) Between t = 0 and t = 10 s, the merry-go-round show the position of the car at one second intervals.
completes nearly 2 revolutions. Using the coordinate system shown, select the correct
choices.
(b) Between t = 30 s to t = 40 s, the merry-go-round
rotates clockwise and slows down.
(c) Graph given in the figure (iii) best represents
the merry-go-round’s scalar angular acceleration
between t = 0 and t = 20 s.
(d) Graph given in the figure (ii) best represents
the merry-go-round’s scalar angular acceleration
between t = 0 and t = 20 s.
8. A projectile is projected from the ground making (a) The speed of the car at point B is 30 ms–1.
an angle of 60° with the horizontal. Which of the (b) The acceleration of the car at point D is zero.
followings are correct? (c) The speed of the car at point E is 50 ms–1.
(a) Component of acceleration normal to the path (d) The acceleration of the car at point E is 50
is never less than g/2. ms–2

7.24
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Worksheet 3
1. A small object is rotating in a circle of radius 0.5 m 9. A stone is projected from a flat ground. Its initial
making 1200 rpm. It begins to retard at a constant velocity makes an angle of 53° with the ground and
rate of 5p rad s–2. the smallest radius of curvature of its path is 90 m.
Find the number of revolutions completed by it from Find the radius of curvature of its path at time t = 1 s
the moment retardation begins till it stops. after projection.
2. A particle is moving uniformly in a circle of radius 10. A particle is moving in a circle of radius R and its
r = 0.6 m and has an acceleration equal to 5 times speed is u. Its speed begins to increase at a constant
the acceleration due to gravity. Find the time period rate. By the time it rotates through 90°, magnitude
and frequency of rotation [g = 9.8 ms–2]. of change in its velocity vector is 2u. At this instant
3. A particle is moving in a circle of radius R with a find
constant angular speed w. Find the magnitude of its (i) Its radial acceleration.
displacement in time t. (ii) Angle between acceleration and velocity.
4. Speed of an object undergoing uniform circular 11. Two particles describe the same circle of radius R, in
motion is 4 ms–1. Magnitude of change in veloc- the same direction with speed v. The particles have
ity during an interval of 0.5 s is 4 ms–1. Find the some separation between them. Find their relative
minimum possible centripetal acceleration of the angular speed.

[ 25
object. ​ Take p = ___ ]
​   ​  ​.
8
5. A particle is set to move on a circular track of radius
1 m. It starts moving and its a (ms–2)
tangential acceleration changes
with time as shown in the fig-
ure. Find the time after which
the acceleration of the particle
makes an angle of 30° with its 60°
t (s)
12. A car moves around a road which is part of a circle.
O
radial component. Speed of the car is constant at 72 kmph. Tangent at
two points A and B on the road make an angle of
6. A particle moves in an xy plane and its velocity
45° between them. The arc length AB is 100 m. Find
changes with time as
​_› the acceleration of the car.
​v ​ = v0 + at
Find the magnitude of its tangential, normal and total
__
÷
​ 3 ​ v0
_____
acceleration at time t = ​  a ​.

7. A particle moves in a circle of radius R with a con-

stant speed v. Find the magnitude of its average
pR
acceleration during a time interval D t = ___
​   ​.
2v
8. A particle is moving in a circular path of radius 0.2 m
with an angular velocity w = 20 t2 rad s–1, where t
13. A body rotates in a circle so that its angular velocity
is time in second.
depends on the rotation angle (q) as w = w0 – kq,
(i) Find its acceleration at t = 0.5 s. where w0 and k are positive constants. At time t = 0,
(ii) Find total number of revolutions that it completes q = 0. Find the time dependence of angular displace-
in 5 s. ment q.

7.25
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Answers Sheet
Your Turn

1. 12 : 1 2. 12.6 ms–1 3. (i) 4 rad s–1 (ii) 2.5 rad s–1

4. 13.37 5. 837.3 kmh–1 6. 2.4 ms–1 7. 251.2 ms–1
8
8. ​ __ ​ rad. 9. yes 10. 118.3 ms–2 11. 12 rad s–2, 4 rad s–1
3
12. 38.7 ms–1 13. 100 m 14. a dq 15. (0, 0)
16. C, B 17. 6.28 rad s–2 18. 1/3 19. 0.8 ms–2
20. (i) a = – 5 rad s (ii) 1600 ms–2 (iii) a
–2
1600 ms–2 (iv) 39.8 21. 50 rad s–1
20 20
22. (i) 5/2 m (ii) ____
​  __ ​ m 23. ​ ___ ​ ms–2 24. E
3​÷3 ​ 3
9
___
25. (i) ​   ​ rad s (ii) 1 rad s–1
–1
25

Worksheet 1
1. (c) 2. (d) 3. (a) 4. (a) 5. (b) 6. (b) 7. (a) 8. (b) 9. (a)
10. (b) 11. (a) 12. (b) 13. (c) 14. (d) 15. (d) 16. (b) 17. (b) 18. (d)
19. (d) 20. (a) 21. (c) 22. (b) 23. (a)

Worksheet 2
1. (a,c,d) 2. (a,b,c,d) 3. (a,b,c,d) 4. (a,b) 5. (a,c) 6. (a,b) 7. (a,b,d) 8. (a,b,c) 9. (a,b,c,d)

Worksheet 3
1. 80 2. 0.69 s, 1.44 Hz ( )
wt
3. 2a sin ​ ​ ___ ​  ​
2
4. 8.33 ms–2
__ __
÷
​ 3 ​a __
a 2​÷2 ​ v2
5. 22/3
s 6. ​ ____
 ​, ​   ​, a 7. ​ ______​ 8. (i) 6.4 ms–2 (ii) 132.7 rev
2 2 pR

( )
__ 3u2 3p v
9. 180 ​÷2 ​ m 10. (i) ___
​  ​ (ii) tan–1 ​ ___ ​   ​  ​ 11. ​ __​
R 2 R
w0
12. 3.14 ms–2 13. q = ___
​  ​ (​ 1 – e– kt )
k
​
7.26
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C h ap t e r 8

Relative motion and Constraints

‘‘The velocity with which time flies is infinite, as is most apparent to those who look back”.
— Seneca the Younger

1. Introduction From the triangle rule of vector addition, we have

​_› ​_› ​_›
​r ​1 + ​r ​21 = ​r ​2
While reading this book you find the book to be at rest. ​_› ​_› ​_›
If somebody (an alien, an astronaut or the God himself) fi ​r ​21 = ​r ​2 – ​r ​1 ...(i)
in space watches you, he will say that you and the book What is the significance of the above equation? It tells
are moving at thousands of kilometre per hour as the Earth us that if an observer knows the position of two objects – 1
rotates around its own axis and revolves around the sun. The and 2, he can calculate the position of 2 as observed by 1.
state of the book described by the two observers are very In the above example, the man standing on ground can use
different. Similarly, you will find your co-passenger to be at (i) to find the position of car 2 as observed by the driver of
rest in a train but someone standing on the ground finds that car 1.
all the passengers are moving. Velocity of a scooter observed
If the man in above example ​_›
finds that the two cars are
​_›
by someone on the ground will be very different from its
moving, he will see that ​r 1​ and ​r 2​ are changing. In general,
velocity observed by a pilot of an aeroplane. Till now, we
the driver of 1 will also see that the position of 2 is changing.
have described all our motion assuming that the observer
We will differentiate equation (i) to get the relationship in
was attached to the ground.
velocities. ​_› ​_› ​_›
In this chapter, we will describe how observations made d ​r 21
_____ ​ d ​r 2​ d ​r 1​
​  ​ = ____
​  ​ – ____ ​  ​
by different observers in different frames of reference are dt dt dt
​_› ​_› ​_›
related to each other. Observers in different frames may fi ​v 21 ​ = ​v 2​ – ​v 1​ ...(ii)
measure different positions, velocities, and accelerations for
​_› ​_›
a given particle. Two observers moving relative to each other In this equation, ​v ​1 and ​v ​2 are the velocities of car 1 and
generally do not agree on outcome of a measurement. 2 as observed by the man.
​_›
​v ​21 = velocity of 2 relative to 1.
2. RELATIVE POSITION, VELOCITY, AND An important thing to understand is that the man
ACCELERATION (on ground) need not give a phone call to the driver of car
1 and ask him what velocity does he see the car 2 is mov-
Consider a man standing on
ing at. He himself can calculate the velocity of 2 which is
the ground (This is not nec-
observed by 1, using equation (ii).
essary. This observer can be
in a moving train as well). differentiating equation (ii) with respect to time, we get
He observes two moving relationship in accelerations.
​_› ​_› ​_›
cars — 1 and 2. d​v 21
____ ​ d​v 2​ ____
____ d​v 1​
​  ​ = ​  ​ – ​  ​
At time t: dt dt dt
_
​› ​_› ​_› ​_›
​r ​1 = position vector of car 1 as observed by the man. fi ​a ​21 = ​a ​2 – ​a ​1 … (iii)
​_› ​_› ​_›
​r ​2 = position vector of car 2 as observed by the man. ​a 1​ and ​a 2​ are accelerations
​_›
of the car 1 and car 2 as
_
​›
​r ​21 = position vector of car 2 as observed by the driver recorded by the man. ​a 21 ​ is the acceleration of car 2 that is
of car 1 (or, position vector of 2 relative to 1). recorded by the driver of car 1.
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8.2 Mechanics I

​_› ​_› ​_›

In short ​v ​TC = ​v ​T – ​v ​C
​_› ​_›
(i) Velocity of body 2 as observed by an observer 1 is = ​v ​T + (– ​v ​C)
_
​› _
​›
written as ​v ​21. Similarly, ​v ​12 means velocity of 1 as The necessary constructions using the parallelogram rule
observed by 2. of vector addition has been shown in figure below.
________
(ii) If an observer (in any reference frame) records the vTC = ​÷402 + 302 ​ = 50 kmh–1.
​_› ​_›
velocities of two objects 1 and 2 as ​v ​1 and ​v ​2, respec-
tively, then he can calculate the velocity of 2 as seen
​_› ​_›
by 1 (​v ​21) or velocity of 1 as seen by 2 (​v ​12).
_
​› _
​› _
​› _
​› _
​› _
​› _
​›
​v ​21 = ​v ​2 – ​v ​1; ​v ​12 = –​v ​21 = ​v ​1 – ​v ​2
Similar relation holds for position and accelerations
​_› ​_› ​_› ​_› ​_› ​_›
​r ​21 = ​r ​2 – ​r ​1 and ​a ​21 = ​a ​2 – ​a ​1
(iii) Speed of 2 relative to 1 is the magnitude of relative
velocity. ​_›
​_› ​_› ​_› ​_› Direction of ​v ​TC makes an angle q with the east towards
v21 = |​v ​21| = |​v ​2 – ​v ​1| = |​v ​12| north where
Speed of 2 relative to 1 is same as the speed of 1 relative 40 4
tan q = ___
​   ​ = __
​   ​
to 2. 30 3
q  53°
Example 1 Two cars are moving towards each other on a
straight highway. Their speeds are 60 kmh–1 and 90 kmh–1. Therefore, velocity of the truck for the car driver is
Find their relative speed. 50 kmh–1 in a direction 53° N of E.
Note that velocity of car as seen by the truck driver will
Solution be 50 kmh–1 53° S of W.
Concepts
Example 3 Two balls are projected simultaneously from the
(i) Relative speed is the magnitude of relative velocity. ground. First ball is projected vertically up with a velocity of
(ii) In one D motion ± sign are used to indicate the u1 = 10 ms–1 and the second ball is projected with a velocity
directions. of u2 = 20 ms–1 at an angle of 37° to the horizontal. Answer
(iii) It is implied that the speeds 60 kmh–1 and 90 kmh–1 the following questions for the time interval for which both
are recorded by a man standing on ground. the balls are in flight.
(i) Find the acceleration
of ball 2 relative to the
ball 1.
(ii) Find the velocity of 2 relative to 1.
v21 = v2 – v1 = – 90 – (60) = – 150 kmh–1 (iii) Will an insect in the ball 1 see the ball 2 travelling
It means that the driver in car 1 finds that car 2 is moving on a curved path?
with a velocity of 150 kmh–1 in the negative direction (i.e., Solution
to left). Concepts
Driver in car 2 will find car 1 moving to right at
150 kmh–1. We will express the velocities in , notation for easy
\ relative speed v21 = v12 = 150 kmh–1. calculations _​ _
​› _
​› _ ​› _
​› _
​›
›
​a ​21 = ​a ​2 – ​a ​1; ​v ​21 = ​v ​2 – ​v ​1
Example 2 A truck is moving towards north with a veloc-
ity of 40 kmh–1 and a car is moving in the west direction (i) During their course of flight, acceleration of both the
at a velocity of 30 kmh–1. Find the velocity of the truck as balls is g in the downward direction.
observed by the driver of the car. \ a21 = a2 – a1 = g (Ø) – g (Ø) = 0.
Solution This is a very important result. No matter how the
Concepts balls are travelling, as long as both of them are mov-
​_› ing under the gravity, their relative acceleration is
(i) Velocity of truck relative of car is written as ​v ​TC
_
​› _
​› _
​› zero.
and is calculated as ​v ​TC = ​v ​T – ​v ​C. ​_›
(ii) ​u ​1 = 10
(ii) It is implied that the two given velocities have been ​_›
recorded by an observer on the ground. ​u ​2 = 20 cos 37° + 20 sin 37°
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Relative motion and Constraints 8.3

= 16 + 12 ​_›
​u ​21 makes an angle q with the horizontal where,
2 1
tan q = ​ ___ ​ = __
​   ​
16 8
Hence, an observer in ball 1 ____ finds that ball 2 was
projected with a velocity of ÷ ​ 260 ​ ms–1 at an angle
1
()
of q = tan–1 ​ ​ __ ​  ​ from the horizontal.
8
(iii) An observer in ball 1 will see that ball 2 moves with a
Hence, the velocity of 2 relative to 1 is constant velocity as he does not see any acceleration.
_
​› _
​› _
​› No acceleration means no change in direction and
​u ​21 = ​u ​2 – ​u ​1 = 16 + 12 – 10
magnitude of the velocity. Therefore, the observer
= (16 + 2 ) ms–1 will see that ball​_2 moves uniformly in a straight line
›
with a velocity ​u ​21.
_______ ____
u21 = ​÷162 + 22 ​ = ​÷260 ​ ms–1

Your Turn

Q.1 City B is located 500 km away from city A in a direc- west and is diving at a velocity of 300 kmh–1 making an
tion 37° N of E. Another city C is 375 km away from city angle of 37° with the horizontal. Find the speed of the ship
A in a direction 53° N of east. Find the location of city C as seen by the pilot.
relative to B.
Q.2 Two trains A and B are moving on parallel tracks Q.5 Two particles move along the x-axis. Their x−t graphs
in the same direction. Velocities of the two trains are are as shown below. Find the velocity of particle 2 relative
vA = 100 kmh–1 and vB = 60 kmh–1 at a certain instant. to particle 1.
Train A is retarding at a rate of 3 ms–2 and B is accelerating
at a rate of 1 ms–2 at the moment.
(i) Find the velocity of B as observed by the driver in
A.
(ii) Find the acceleration of A as seen by the driver in
B.
Q.3 A helicopter on a flood relief mission is flying
horizontally at a constant velocity of 50 ms–1. It drops a
food packet at time t = 0.
(i) Find the velocity of the food packet relative to the Q.6 A vertical wall is moving to
pilot, immediately after the release of the packet. the left with a constant velocity v. A
(ii) Find the acceleration of the packet relative to the ball, moving to left with velocity v
pilot. hits this wall. Speed of the ball rela-
(iii) Find the velocity of the food packet relative to the tive to the wall is same before and
pilot 5 s after the release. [g = 10 ms–2] after the collision. Find the speed of
the ball (with respect to ground) after
Q.4 A ship is travelling with a velocity of 50 kmh–1 in a the collision.
direction 37° W of N. An aeroplane is headed towards the

3. CHANGE OF the REFERENCE FRAME or more moving bodies when the observer is on ground. In
such situations, it may help to attach the observer to one
TO SIMPLIFY A PROBLEM of the moving bodies. The body to which the observer is
Many times, a change in reference frame can simplify a attached will always be at rest.
problem. It may be difficult to relate to the motions of two
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8.4 Mechanics I

We all are in a reference frame attached to the Earth. Therefore, an observer attached to ball 1 finds that
We do not see it moving. In fact, every day we see that ball 2 moves with a constant velocity of 20 ms–1 and
the sun moves from east to west. When you are riding your hits it.
motorcycle, the motorcycle is not moving for you, in fact Time needed is
the road moves. The trees and buildings move for you.
20 m
Positions, velocities and accelerations in two different t = ​ _______  ​ = 1 s
frames are related through equations learnt in the last 20 ms–1
section. The examples below will illustrate the procedure. (ii) Since u21 = 20 ms–1 is constant, the separation (s)
Many problems that follow can be done in routine manner between the two balls decreases linearly from 20 m
also but to familiarise ourselves with the concept of rela- to 0.
tive motion, we will do them using concepts learnt in this
chapter.
Before starting with problems, we must stress that all
the equations of kinematics remain valid in any reference
frame.

Example 4 A ball is dropped from a height of 20 m and

another ball is simultaneously projected up from the ground
at a velocity of 20 ms–1.
(i) Find the time when the two balls collide.
(ii) Draw a graph showing the variation in separation Example 5 Falling of a nut inside a lift.
between the balls with time. Draw the graph till the A lift has a floor to ceiling height of 3.0 m. It is going
time the two balls collide with each other. up. At the instant its velocity is 5 ms–1, a nut gets detached
Solution from the ceiling. Find the time in which the nut will strike
the floor for the following two cases:
Concepts
(i) Lift is moving uniformly.
(i) We will solve the problem in a reference frame (ii) Lift has an upward acceleration of 2 ms–2.
attached to the first ball. You might like to think
that an insect is sitting on the ball and we will Solution
describe the situation from the insect’s point of Concepts
view. In this frame, the first ball is not moving.
In reference frame of the ground, the nut as well as the
(ii) Relative acceleration of the two balls in air is
floor of the lift are moving. Also, the initial velocity of
always zero.
the nut in this reference frame is 5 ms–1 (≠).
In reference frame of the lift, the problem gets
simplified. In this frame, the lift is not moving and the
initial velocity of the nut is zero.

(i)

(i) In the reference frame of ball 1, initial velocity of ball 2 is

u21 = u2 – u1 = 20 (­­≠) – 0 = 20 ms–1 (≠)
Acceleration of ball 2 relative to ball 1 is

a21 = a2 – a1 = g (Ø) – g (Ø) = 0

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Relative motion and Constraints 8.5

Let us assume our observer to be someone riding Let our observer be someone on ship 1. For him, ship 1 is
the lift. For this observer everything inside the lift at rest. Now the velocity of ship 2 as observed by him is
(including its floor and the nut) is at rest.
Initial velocity of the nut unL = 0
Acceleration of the nut in this reference frame is
anL = an – aL = g (Ø) – 0 = g (Ø).
Displacement before the nut hits the floor is
xnL = 3.0 m
1 ​_› ​_› ​_› ​_› ​_›
Using xnL = unL t + __
​   ​ anL t2 ​v ​21 = ​v ​2 – ​v ​1 = ​v ​2 + (– ​v ​1)
2
__
1 From the figure, v21 = 20 ​÷ 2 ​ kmh–1 in north-east
3 = 0 + __
​   ​ × 10 × t2
2 direction.
___
fi t = ​÷0.6 ​ s. For the observer in ship
__
1, the other ship moves uniformly
in NE direction at 20 ​÷2 ​ kmh–1.
(ii) In this case, anL = an – aL = 10 (Ø) – 2 (≠)
Obviously, the minimum separation is
= 10 (Ø) + 2 (Ø) 10
do = d sin 45° = ___
​  __ ​
÷
​ 2 ​
= 12 ms–2 (Ø) __
= 5​÷2 ​ km
1
Using xnL = unL t + __
​   ​ anL t2
2
1
3 = 0 + __
​   ​ × 12 × t2
2
1__
fi t = ​ ___  ​ s
÷
​ 2 ​

Example 6 Smallest distance between ships.

Two ships are d = 10 km apart on a line running from
Ship 1 is at rest. Ship 2 is moving
south to north. The one farther north is steaming towards in the north-east direction.
west at 20 kmh–1 and the other is steaming north at 20 kmh–1.
At what time are the ships closest to each other and what is __
the distance between the two at that instant? Also, AB = 5​÷2 ​ km

Solution = distance travelled by ship 2 by the time it reaches B

__
Concepts
AB__ _____ 5​÷2 ​ 1
\ time needed t = ​ _____ ​ = ​  __ ​ = ​ __ ​ h = 15 min
(i) It is understood that the two velocities given in the 20​÷2 ​ 20​÷2 ​ 4
problem are recorded by someone attached to the
ground. Example 7 A stolen car is running on a straight highway
(ii) We will assume that our observer is in one of at a constant velocity of 20 ms–1. A police jeep starts to
the ships. He will find his own ship to be at rest. chase the car when it was 40 m behind. It starts from rest
The velocity of the other ship that he will see is and moves with a constant acceleration of 4 ms–2. The jeep
​_› ​_› ​_› overtakes the car in time t.
obtained by using ​v ​21 = ​v ​2 – ​v ​1.
(i) Find t working in the reference frame of the car.
(iii) In this new reference frame, only one ship is mov-
(ii) Assume a cameraman sitting inside the car. He
ing with a constant velocity. This greatly simplifies
records the entire event and the film is later played
the problem.
on a TV set. Draw a graph showing how the separa-
tion between the car and the jeep changes with time
Velocities of the two ships are as shown in the figure
in the film.
below.
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8.6 Mechanics I

1
Concepts 40 = – 20 t + __
​   ​ × 4 × t 2
2
(i) For an observer in the car, the car itself is at rest
fi t2 – 10t – 20 = 0
and only the jeep moves. ________
10 ± ​÷100 + 80 ​ __
(ii) Equation of kinematics can be used in any reference fi t = ​  _____________
   = 5 ± 3​÷5 ​
 ​
frame. 2
(iii) Film shot by the cameraman in the car describes Since the time cannot be negative
the motion of the jeep relative to the car. __
t = (5 + 3​÷5 ​) s

= 11.7 s
(ii) The required separation is
s = Initial separation – displacement of jeep in
reference frame of the car.

fi ( 1
s = 40 – ​ – 20t + __ )
​   ​ × 4 × t2 ​
2
s = 40 + 20t – 2t 2
The required graph is plot of the above quadratic
In reference frame of the car, initial velocity of the jeep is equation.
uJC = uJ – uC = 0 – 20 (Æ)

= 20 ms–1 (¨)
Acceleration of the jeep in frame attached to the car is
aJC = aJ – aC = 4 (Æ) – 0 = 4 ms–2 (Æ)
Observer in the car initially finds that the jeep is moving
away from it and the separation increases. After some time
(due to acceleration), the velocity of jeep (vJC) will become
zero. This is the instant when the separation between the two
will become maximum. After this, the velocity of jeep is in Note that vJC = uJC + aJC t
rightward direction and begins to increase. The separation
begins to decrease. Separation becomes zero when the jeep = –20 + 4t
is about to overtake.
(i) For an observer in the car, we use (for motion of the jeep) fi vJC = 0 at t = 5 s

1
xJC = uJC t + __
​   ​ aJC t 2 ...(i) fi Separation is maximum at t = 5 s.
2

Your Turn

Q.7 Two cars are running on a straight highway with car (ii) Assume that the driver of car 2 is your observer. He
1 ahead of car 2. Velocities of the two cars are v1 = 10 ms–1 is at the origin and takes positive x-direction along
and v2 = 12 ms–1, respectively. At t = 0, separation between the highway ahead of him. Plot the x co-ordinate of
them is 20 m. car 1 as seen by this driver versus time. Consider
0 £ t £ t0.
Q.8 A boy is standing in front of a car. Separation between
them is 10 m. Both of them start moving in the same direc-
tion at t = 0, with the boy moving away from the car. The
boy moves with a constant velocity of 1 ms–1 while the car
(i) Find the time (t0) in which car 2 will catch car 1. moves with an acceleration of 4 ms–2.
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Relative motion and Constraints 8.7

(i) Find the time when the car overtakes the boy.
(ii) Draw a graph showing how the separation between
the two changes with time.
Q.9 Two trains are moving on parallel tracks in opposite
directions. They are moving with the same speed of 15 ms–1
and both the trains are 210 m long. Find the time they will
take to cross each other.

Q.13 Two cars are moving along a straight line at a sepa-

Q.10 A boy is riding a tall lift. The lift is going up and ration of 5 km. Both are moving in the same direction
–2
is retarding. Its retardation is 2 ms . At the instant velocity
at 30 kmh–1.
of the lift is 4 ms–1, the boy tosses a ball vertically up with
a velocity 10 ms–1 relative to himself. After what time will (i) A third car which is moving in the opposite direction
he catch the ball? meets these cars at an interval of 4 min. What is the
speed of the third car?
Q.11 Two balls, 1 and 2, are moving uniformly in an (ii) A truck overtakes the two cars at an interval of
xy plane.
__ At t = 0, ball 1 is at origin and has a velocity 10 min. What is the speed of the truck?
v1 = 8​÷2 ​ ms–1 in the direction shown in the figure. At this
moment, ball 2 is on y-axis at y = 10 m and has a velocity Q.14 Two cars A and B have velocities 20 ms–1 and 5
v2 = 2 ms–1 in positive x-direction. Find the minimum sepa- ms–1. They are running in the same direction with B ahead
ration between the two balls during their course of motion. of A. Distance between the cars is 150 m when A begins
to retard at a uniform rate of 1 ms–2. Will car A overtake
B? Draw a graph showing the separation of two cars as a
function of time.
Q.15 Two stones are thrown simultaneously from the
top of a tower which is 200 m high. The stones are given
vertically upward velocities of 15 ms–1 and 20 ms–1. Plot a
graph showing the separation of stones with time. Consider
the interval till one of the stones hits the ground.
Q.16 A small mass is dropped from the ceiling of a train.
Q.12 A lift is going up with a constant acceleration of At the instant it is released, the train is moving along a
–2
2 m s . A particle is projected from a point A on its floor at straight track with an acceleration of 3 ft s–2. Ceiling of the
a velocity of 4 ms–1 making an angle of 37° with the floor. train is 7 ft above the floor. Calculate the time for the mass
Find the time after which it will land back on the floor. Also to hit the floor. Where will it strike the floor?
find the distance AB on the floor of the lift if B is the point
[g = 32 ft s–2]
on the floor where it falls back. Assume that it does not hit
any wall or ceiling of the lift. [g = 10 m s–2]

​_›
4. Rain and the Moving Observers ​v ​M = Velocity of a walking/running man as recorded by
an observer standing on the ground.
Recall travelling in a train on a rainy day. The direction of
the rainfall appears to change quite frequently. Sometimes, Velocity of rain apparent to the walking man is given as
the drops enter through your window and sometimes they ​_› ​_› ​_›
just appear to be going away from you. It is not the rainfall ​v ​RM = ​v ​R – ​v ​M
or the wind which is changing its velocity so frequently. In
fact, it is your train which accelerates, retards or changes This is the velocity of rain which is relative to the walking
its direction of motion. The direction and speed of rainfall man. He will try to keep the canopy of his umbrella normal
​_›
apparent to you depends on your motion also. to the direction of ​v ​RM. It means, the umbrella stick will be
​_› _
​›
Let ​v ​R = Velocity of the raindrops as recorded by an parallel to ​v ​RM. This will ensure maximum protection.
observer on the ground.
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8.8 Mechanics I

(ii) When the rainfall is vertical, it makes no difference

whether the man is walking towards east or north
direction. The raindrops appear to come from the
front inclined at same angle to the vertical.

(i)

Velocity of the rainfall that the man sees is

​_› ​_› ​_› ​_› ​_›
Example 8 It is raining and raindrops are falling vertically ​v ​RM = ​v ​R – ​v ​M = ​v ​R + (– ​v ​M)
at a speed of 10 kmh–1. A man is walking at a speed of ​_›
The construction
​_› of ​v ​RM has been shown in the figure
6 kmh–1 on a straight horizontal road. above.​
(i) With what speed the raindrops hit man? _ _______ ____
​›
(ii) At what angle to the vertical shall he hold the stick  ​ ​v ​RM = ​÷102 + 62 ​= ​÷136 ​kmh–1 = 11.7 kmh–1.
of his umbrella for the maximum protection? ​_›
(ii) Direction of ​v ​RM makes an angle q with the vertical
(iii) How will your answer to the above two questions where
change if the man takes a 90° turn but keeps walking
at 6 kmh–1? 6
tan q = ___
​   ​  fi q = tan–1 (0.6)
10
Solution
Concepts Man should hold his umbrella stick at an angle q to
the vertical.
(i) Rainfall appears to man along the vector
​_› ​_› ​_› (iii) The answers will not change.
​v ​RM = ​v ​R – ​v ​M

Your Turn

Q.17 A boy riding his scooter observed that raindrops hit horizontal should the pipe be placed so that the rain drops
him vertically at a speed of 10 m s–1. Find the actual speed falling vertically with a velocity of 6 m s–1 enter the pipe
and direction of the rainfall if the scooter is moving on a moving parallel to its wall.
horizontal road at 10 m s–1.
Q.18 A pipe is mounted on a cart. It can be rotated in
the vertical plane. The cart moves uniformly along a hori-
zontal path with a velocity of 2 m s–1. At what angle to the

5. RELATIVE MOTION OF TWO moving uniformly (i.e., along a straight line with a constant
speed). Once one of them hits the ground and comes to rest,
PROJECTILES it will find the other projectile moving with an acceleration
As long as two projectiles are in flight, their relative g (Ø).
acceleration is zero. This implies that one will see the other
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Relative motion and Constraints 8.9

7 70
Example 9 Minimum separation between two projectiles. Also, AC = 10 cos q = 10 × _______
​  ______  ​ = ____
​  ___ ​ m
Two projectiles are projected simultaneously from ground ÷​ 7 + 1  ​ ​÷50 ​
2 2

as shown in the figure. Their initial separation is d = 10 m.

Time when 1 is closest to 2 is given by
Find the minimum separation between them during the
period both of them are in flight. AC ____________ 70 70 7
t = ​ ___
u12 ​ = ​  ___     ​ =
_______ ____
​   ​ = ___
​   ​ s
​÷50 ​ ÷
​ 282 + 42 ​ 200 20

This time is larger than the time of flight of both the

projectiles (please check yourself). It means__ both are still
in flight when they are at a separation of ÷
​ 2 ​ m.
Solution Example 10 From points A and B, at respective heights of
Concepts 2 m and 6 m, two bodies are thrown simultaneously towards
(i) Assume an observer is attached to projectile 2 each other. One is thrown horizontally with a velocity of
observing the motion of 1. 8 m s–1 and the other downward at an angle of 45° to the
​_› horizontal at an initial velocity such that the two bodies col-
(ii) Find ​u 12
​ . The observer finds that ​_the first particle
› lide in flight. The horizontal distance between A and B is
travels in a straight line along ​u ​12 without an
8 m. Find the velocity of projection of the body projected
acceleration.
from B.
(iii) Minimum distance is _​the perpendicular distance of
›
the line representing ​u ​12 from point B.

Let the x- and y-directions be as shown in the figure.

​_›
​u ​1 = 20 cos 53° + 20 sin 53°
= 12 + 16
_
​›
​u ​2 = – 20 cos 37° + 20 sin 37°
= – 16 + 12
Solution
Concepts
(i) The problem can be solved by considering motion
of one body in the reference frame attached to the
Velocity of projectile 1 as observed by projectile 2 is other body.
​_› ​_› ​_› (ii) If we consider the motion of projectile thrown
​u ​12 = ​u ​1 – ​u ​2 = 28 +4 from B relative to the one thrown​_ from A, then
›
Relative acceleration is zero. Therefore, the observer the collision can take place only if ​u ​BA is directed
attached to projectile 2 finds that projectile 1 moves in the along the line BA. Remember that the body at
_
​› A, in this frame, is not moving and B is moving
direction of ​u ​12 with a constant speed. This direction makes
an angle q with x-axis where uniformly.
(ii) We can solve the problem in ground frame also.
4 1
tan q = ___
​   ​ = __
​   ​ We will assume that the collision happens in time
28 7
t and frame equations using the fact that both the
Hence, from the figure
bodies are at the same location at time t.
1 10 __
dmin = 10 sin q = 10 × _______
​  ______  ​ = ____
​  ___ ​ = ÷
​ 2 ​ m Here, we are presenting both the methods.
÷​ 7 + 12 ​
2 ​÷50 ​
Let x- and y-direction be as shown in the figure below.
Let the speed of the projection of the second body be u.
​_›
​u ​A = 8
​_› u__ u__
​u ​B = – ​ ___  ​ – ​ ___  ​
÷
​ 2 ​ ​÷2 ​
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8.10 Mechanics I

Alternate:
Now we will solve the problem in ground frame.
Let the particles collide at time t, at point P. If x1 and x2
are horizontal displacement of the two bodies, then

Initial velocity of B as observed by A is

​_› ​_› ​_›
​u ​BA = ​u ​B – ​u ​A

u
= – ​ ___
u
​  __ ​ + 8 ​ – ___
÷
​ 2 ​ (
​  __ ​
÷
​ 2 ​ )
​_› x1 + x2 = 8
Relative acceleration ​a ​BA = 0
fi 8t + (u cos 45°)t = 8
Therefore, particle at A u
finds that the one at B moves fi 8t + ___
​  __ ​ t = 8 ...(i)
​_› ÷
​ 2 ​
uniformly at a velocity
​_›
of ​u ​BA.
For collision, ​u ​BA must be If y1 and y2 are vertical displacements of the two bodies
along the line BA. Line BA is in time t, then
inclined at q to the horizontal y2 – y1 = 4 [ h2 – h1 = 6 – 2 = 4 m]
such that

4 1
tan q = __
​   ​ = __
​   ​
[
fi ​ (u sin 45°) t + __
1
2 ] [ 1
​   ​ g t 2 ​ – ​ __ ]
​   ​ g t 2 ​ = 4
2
8 2 u
fi ​ ___ __ ​ t = 4 ...(ii)
u
___ ÷
​ 2 ​
​  __ ​
÷
​ 2 ​ 1
fi ​ ______
u__  ​ = __
​   ​ From (i) and (ii)
___
​   ​ + 8 2
÷
​ 2 ​ 8t + 4 = 8 fi t = 0.5 s.
__ __
u__ From (ii) we get, u = 8​÷2 ​ m s–1
fi ​ ___  ​ = 8 fi u = 8​÷2 ​ m s–1
÷
​ 2 ​

Your Turn

Q.19 Two particles are (ii) Write the acceleration of A relative to B.

projected from points A and B
(iii) In how much time, the two projectiles will collide?
on the ground as shown in the
figure. The first one is projected Q.21 Two particles are simultaneously thrown from the
vertically up with a velocity roofs of two high build-
u1 = 10 m s–1. The second particle is projected with velocity ings as shown in figure.
u2 making an angle 53° with the horizontal. Find u2 if the Their projection veloci-
two particles collide during their flight. ties are vA = 2 ms–1 at
45° to horizontal and
vB = 14 ms–1 at 45°
Q.20 Two particles are
to horizontal. Find the
projected simultaneously from
smallest separation
points A and B as shown in the
between the particles
figure. Point B is vertically above
during their course of
A at a height of h = 5 m.
motion.
(i) Find the initial velocity
of A relative to B.
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Relative motion and Constraints 8.11

6. Bullet Fired from a Moving Gun (ii) Find the time of flight for the bullet.
Neglect the height of the canon.
A gun will usually fire a bullet with a speed that is fixed
relative to the gun. Speed of the bullet relative to the gun is
usually known as its muzzle speed. When a gun fires while
it is moving, the velocity of bullet coming out of it will be
different from the muzzle velocity.
_
​›
If ​v ​ is the velocity of bullet relative to the gun (= muzzle
velocity) and,
​_›
​v G ​ = velocity of the gun
​_›
​v b​ = velocity of bullet relative to ground Solution
_
​› _
​› _
​›
then, ​v ​ = ​v ​b – ​v ​G Concepts
​_› ​_› ​_›
fi ​v ​b = ​v ​ + ​v ​G Velocity of the bullet relative to the gun is 100 ms–1 at 37°
to the horizontal. Actual velocity of bullet is
Similarly, if you say that you can run at a speed of
​_› ​_› ​_›
20 kmh–1, it implies that you can run at 20 kmh–1 relative ​v ​b = ​v ​ + ​v ​G
to the surface on which you are moving. A man running on
a treadmill at 20 kmh–1 is not moving at all (for a person Velocity of the bullet relative to the gun is
standing on ground). ​_›
​v ​ = (100 cos 37°) + (100 sin 37°)
Example 11 On firing a shot horizontally, a canon recoils = 80 + 60
with a speed of 2 ms–1. The muzzle velocity of the shot
Actual velocity of the bullet is
is 100 ms–1. Find the speed of the shell relative to the
​_› ​_› ​_›
ground. ​v ​b = ​v ​ + ​v ​G
Solution
= 80 + 60 + 20
Concepts
= 100 + 60
Man sitting on the canon will find the shell to be moving
away at 100 ms–1.
Velocity of the bullet (shot) relative to the gun (cannon)
is _
​› _
​› _
​›
​v ​ = ​v ​b – ​v ​G
fi 100 (Æ) = vb – 2 (¨)
fi 100 (Æ) = vb + 2 (Æ)
fi vb = 98 ms –1
(Æ)
60 3
(i) tan q = ​ ____ ​ = __
​   ​
Example 12 A canon has its muzzle inclined at 37° to 100 5
the horizontal. It’s muzzle velocity is 100 ms–1. It fires a
bullet, while it was travelling horizontally at 20 ms–1, in the \ q = tan–1 (0.6)
forward direction. 2 vby 2 × 60
(ii) T = ​ ____ _______
g ​ = ​  10 ​ = 12 s
(i) Find the angle at which the initial velocity of the
bullet was inclined to the horizontal for a man on
the ground.

Your Turn

Q.22 A gun mounted on a fighter jet has a muzzle speed of the shell if the jet is at a height of 2,000 m at the time
of 2 Mach. The jet is travelling horizontally at a speed of 1 of firing. [1 Mach = speed of sound = 330 ms–1]
Mach. It fires a shell in the forward direction. Find the range
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8.12 Mechanics I

Q.23 An army truck has a gun mounted at its back. The Q.24 A man jumps off the edge of a cart. He jumps
gun fires bullets in all the direction with its muzzle inclined horizontally at a speed 5 ms–1 relative to the cart and the
at 60° to the vertical. The truck is cart recoils at 2 ms–1. Find the speed of the man in air
travelling at a constant velocity immediately after his jump.
of 20 ms–1. Speed of the bullets
relative to the gun is 100 ms–1.
Find the maximum and __ minimum
range of the bullets. [​÷3 ​  1.7]

7. Swimming in a River Velocity of the man in a frame attached to the river bank
is given by
Consider a man who can swim in a calm lake at a speed of ​_› ​_› ​_›
v. We will assume that his speed remains fixed. ​v ​0 = ​v ​ + ​u ​
_
​› _
​›
If this man tries swimming in a river, in general, his speed = ​v ​ + ​u ​ (See the figure below)
will be different due to the flow of water. For example, he
can swim much faster while going downstream and will
get slowed down while trying to swim upstream. But his
speed in a reference frame attached to the flowing water
will always be v. To understand this, consider an observer
riding a wooden raft flowing with water. For this observer,
there is no current. He finds the river to be a calm lake. In
such a frame, our swimmer has a fixed speed v, whichever
direction he swims.

If the width of river is l, then the time to cross the river

can be calculated as
l __l
t = ​ __
vy ​ = ​ v .​
The statement — ‘velocity of swimmer in still water is
v’, is same as saying that velocity of swimmer relative to
For this entire time t, the man moves in x-direction with
water is v.
_
​› a speed u. Hence, he does not reach the exactly opposite
Let ​v ​ = velocity of swimmer (or a boat) relative to water point B and instead reaches point C. BC can be termed as
= velocity of swimmer as observed by someone sitting on a drift.
raft flowing with water. u
​_› Drift x = u ◊ t = __
​ v ​ l
​u ​ = Velocity of water
​_› The time needed to cross the river is smallest in this case
​v ​0 = Actual velocity of swimmer in reference frame of
as the y component of man’s velocity is maximum.
river bank.
​_› ​_› ​_›
If one wishes to cross the river following the shortest
​v ​ = ​v ​0 – ​u ​ route (i.e., moving along the line AB), then his velocity
​_›
fi v0 = v + ​u ​ relative to water shall be in a direction making some angle
q with y-direction as shown in figure given on next page.
Crossing the river ​_› ​_› ​_›
​v ​0= ​v ​ + ​u ​ = v cos q – v sin q +u
Consider a man swimming across a river. He keeps his body ​_›
perpendicular to the direction of the flow and swims with For ​v ​0 to be along y-direction,
a speed of v relative to water. Speed of the water current
v sin q = u
is u.
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Relative motion and Constraints 8.13

Solution
Concepts
We will observe the motion of the boat in a reference
frame attached to the raft. In this frame, there is no flow
of water. The boat appears to move with a fixed speed —
whichever direction it goes.

In the reference frame of the raft boat moves for 1 h in

forward direction and it must take 1 h more to return back.
Note that the raft itself does not move in this frame and the
boat has same speed in all the directions.
A man on the river bank finds that the raft travels a dis-
u
fi sin q = ​ __
v​
tance of 6 km in two hour.
6 km
​_›
And magnitude of ​v ​0 will be \ speed of water is = ​ _____ ​ = 3 kmh–1
2h
________ ______
v0 = v cos q = v ​÷1 – sin2 q ​ = ÷
​ v2 – u2 ​ Example 15 A boat can row at a speed of 3 kmh–1 in
still water. The boatman wants to cross a 500 m wide river
Time to cross the river will be flowing at 2 kmh–1. He always keeps his boat at an angle
l l of 120° with the river flow.
t = ​ __ _______
v0 ​ = ​  2
______  ​
(i) Find the time taken to cross the river.
÷​ v – u2 ​
(ii) At what point on the opposite bank will he arrive?
Example 13 One dimensional river-boat problem. Solution
A motor boat can row in still water at a speed of 10 m s–1.
Concepts
There is a small island in a river flowing at 5 m s–1. The _
​› _
​› _
​›
boat starts from the island and goes downstream to a temple (i) Using ​v ​0 = ​v ​ + ​u ​, find the x and y components of
that is 100 m away. The boat then returns back to the island. the velocity of boat relative to the river bank.
What time does it take in the round trip? l
(ii) Use __
​ v ​ = t to get time.
y
Solution
Concepts (iii) Use x = v0x t to get the drift.
While going downstream, the actual velocity of the boat ​_›
will be (v + u) and while going upstream, its velocity Velocity of the boat (​v ​0) relative to the river bank is
will be (v – u). _
​› _
​› _
​›
​v ​0 = ​v ​ + ​u ​
For the downstream journey v0 = v + u = 10 + 5 = = (– 3 sin 30°) + (3 cos 30°) +2
15 m s–1
100 20
Time taken to travel 100 m is t1 = ____
​   ​ = ___
​   ​ s
15 3
For the upstream journey, v0 = v – u = 10 – 5 = 5 m s–1
100
Time taken to travel 100 m is t2 = ____
​   ​ = 20 s.
5
20
\ total journey time = 20 + ___
​   ​ = 26.7 s
3
__
Example 14 A motorboat is going downstream. It over- ​_› 1 3​÷3 ​
\ ​v ​0 = __
​   ​ + ​ ____
 ​
takes a raft (flowing with water). After overtaking, it keeps 2 2
moving downstream for 1 h and then takes a U-turn. It moves Boat will move along AC to reach point C on the opposite
back and meets the raft at a point that is 6 km from the bank.
initial meeting point. Find the speed of the water. Assume
that the speed of boat relative to water is constant.