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Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to do the following:

Apply principles of vector addition to determine relative velocity
Explain the significance of the observer in the measurement of velocity

The information presented in this section supports the following AP® learning objectives and science practices:

3.A.1.1 The student is able to express the motion of an object using narrative, mathematical, and graphical representations. (S.P. 1.5, 2.1, 2.2)
3.A.1.3 The student is able to analyze experimental data describing the motion of an object and is able to express the results of the analysis using narrative, mathematical, and graphical representations. (S.P. 5.1)

Relative Velocity

If a person rows a boat across a rapidly flowing river and tries to head directly for the other shore, the boat instead moves diagonally relative to the shore, as in Figure 3.44. The boat does not move in the direction in which it is pointed. The reason, of course, is that the river carries the boat downstream. Similarly, if a small airplane flies overhead in a strong crosswind, you can sometimes see that the plane is not moving in the direction in which it is pointed, as illustrated in Figure 3.45. The plane is moving straight ahead relative to the air, but the movement of the air mass relative to the ground carries it sideways.

A boat is trying to cross a river. Due to the velocity of river the path traveled by boat is diagonal. The velocity of boat v boat is in positive y direction. The velocity of river v river is in positive x direction. The resultant diagonal velocity v total which makes an angle of theta with the horizontal x axis is towards north east direction.

Figure 3.44 A boat trying to head straight across a river will actually move diagonally relative to the shore as shown. Its total velocity (solid arrow) relative to the shore is the sum of its velocity relative to the river plus the velocity of the river relative to the shore.

An airplane is trying to fly straight north with velocity v sub p. Due to wind velocity v sub w in south west direction making an angle theta with the horizontal axis, the plane's total velocity is thirty eight point 0 meters per seconds oriented twenty degrees west of north.

Figure 3.45 An airplane heading straight north is instead carried to the west and slowed down by wind. The plane does not move relative to the ground in the direction it points; rather, it moves in the direction of its total velocity (solid arrow).

In each of these situations, an object has a velocity relative to a medium (such as a river) and that medium has a velocity relative to an observer on solid ground. The velocity of the object relative to the observer is the sum of these velocity vectors, as indicated in Figure 3.44 and Figure 3.45. These situations are only two of many in which it is useful to add velocities. In this module, we first re-examine how to add velocities and then consider certain aspects of what relative velocity means.

How do we add velocities? Velocity is a vector—it has both magnitude and direction—the rules of vector addition discussed in Vector Addition and Subtraction: Graphical Methods and Vector Addition and Subtraction: Analytical Methods apply to the addition of velocities, just as they do for any other vectors. In one-dimensional motion, the addition of velocities is simple—they add like ordinary numbers. For example, if a field hockey player is moving at $5 m/s$ straight toward the goal and drives the ball in the same direction with a velocity of $30 m/s$ relative to her body, then the velocity of the ball is $35 m/s$ relative to the stationary, profusely sweating goalkeeper standing in front of the goal.

In two-dimensional motion, either graphical or analytical techniques can be used to add velocities. We will concentrate on analytical techniques. The following equations give the relationships between the magnitude and direction of velocity ( $v$ and $θ$ ) and its components ( $v_{x}$ and $v_{y}$ ) along the x- and y-axes of an appropriately chosen coordinate system

3.72

v_{x} = v cos θ

3.73

v_{y} = v sin θ

3.74

v = \sqrt{v_{x}^{2} + v_{y}^{2}}

3.75

θ = {tan}^{- 1} (v_{y} / v_{x}) .

The figure shows components of velocity v in horizontal x axis v x and in vertical y axis v y. The angle between the velocity vector v and the horizontal axis is theta.

Figure 3.46 The velocity,

v

, of an object traveling at an angle

θ

to the horizontal axis is the sum of component vectors

v_{x}

and

v_{y}

.

These equations are valid for any vectors and are adapted specifically for velocity. The first two equations are used to find the components of a velocity when its magnitude and direction are known. The last two are used to find the magnitude and direction of velocity when its components are known.

Take-Home Experiment: Relative Velocity of a Boat

Fill a bathtub half-full of water. Take a toy boat or some other object that floats in water. Unplug the drain so water starts to drain. Try pushing the boat from one side of the tub to the other and perpendicular to the flow of water. Which way do you need to push the boat so that it ends up immediately opposite? Compare the directions of the flow of water, heading of the boat, and actual velocity of the boat.

Example 3.6 Adding Velocities: A Boat on a River

A boat is trying to cross a river. Due to the velocity of the river the path traveled by the boat is diagonal. The velocity of the boat, v boat, is equal to zero point seven five meters per second and is in positive y direction. The velocity of the river, v-river, is equal to one point two meters per second and is in positive x direction. The resultant diagonal velocity v total, which makes an angle of theta with the horizontal x axis, is towards north east direction.

Figure 3.47 A boat attempts to travel straight across a river at a speed 0.75 m/s. The current in the river, however, flows at a speed of 1.20 m/s to the right. What is the total displacement of the boat relative to the shore?

Refer to Figure 3.47, which shows a boat trying to go straight across the river. Let us calculate the magnitude and direction of the boat's velocity relative to an observer on the shore, $v_{tot}$ . The velocity of the boat, $v_{boat}$ , is 0.75 m/s in the $y$ -direction relative to the river and the velocity of the river, $v_{river}$ , is 1.20 m/s to the right.

Strategy

We start by choosing a coordinate system with its $x$ -axis parallel to the velocity of the river, as shown in Figure 3.47. Because the boat is directed straight toward the other shore, its velocity relative to the water is parallel to the $y$ -axis and perpendicular to the velocity of the river. Thus, we can add the two velocities by using the equations $v_{tot} = \sqrt{v_{x}^{2} + v_{y}^{2}}$ and $θ = {tan}^{- 1} (v_{y} / v_{x})$ directly.

Solution

The magnitude of the total velocity is

3.76

v_{tot} = \sqrt{v_{x}^{2} + v_{y}^{2}},

where

3.77

v_{x} = v_{river} = 1 . 20 m/s

and

3.78

v_{y} = v_{boat} = 0 . 750 m/s.

Thus,

3.79

v_{tot} = \sqrt{(1 . 20 m/s)^{2} + (0 . 750 m/s)^{2}}

yielding

3.80

v_{tot} = 1 . 42 m/s.

The direction of the total velocity $θ$ is given by

3.81

θ = {tan}^{- 1} (v_{y} / v_{x}) = {tan}^{- 1} (0 . 750 / 1 . 20) .

This equation gives

3.82

θ = 32 . 0º .

Discussion

Both the magnitude $v$ and the direction $θ$ of the total velocity are consistent with Figure 3.47. Note that because the velocity of the river is large compared with the velocity of the boat, it is swept rapidly downstream. This result is evidenced by the small angle (only $32.0º$ ) the total velocity has relative to the riverbank.

Example 3.7 Calculating Velocity: Wind Velocity Causes an Airplane to Drift

Calculate the wind velocity for the situation shown in Figure 3.48. The plane is known to be moving at 45.0 m/s due north relative to the air mass, while its velocity relative to the ground (its total velocity) is 38.0 m/s in a direction $20 .0º$ west of north.

An airplane is trying to fly north with velocity v p equal to forty five meters per second at angle of one hundred and ten degrees but due to wind velocity v w in south west direction making an angle theta with the horizontal axis it reaches a position in north west direction with resultant velocity v total equal to thirty eight meters per second and the direction is twenty degrees west of north.

Figure 3.48 An airplane is known to be heading north at 45.0 m/s, though its velocity relative to the ground is 38.0 m/s at an angle west of north. What is the speed and direction of the wind?

Strategy

In this problem, somewhat different from the previous example, we know the total velocity $v_{tot}$ and that it is the sum of two other velocities, $v_{w}$ (the wind) and $v_{p}$ (the plane relative to the air mass). The quantity $v_{p}$ is known, and we are asked to find $v_{w}$ . None of the velocities are perpendicular, but it is possible to find their components along a common set of perpendicular axes. If we can find the components of $v_{w}$ , then we can combine them to solve for its magnitude and direction. As shown in Figure 3.48, we choose a coordinate system with its x-axis due east and its y-axis due north (parallel to $v_{p}$ ). You may wish to look back at the discussion of the addition of vectors using perpendicular components in Vector Addition and Subtraction: Analytical Methods.

Solution

Because $v_{tot}$ is the vector sum of the $v_{w}$ and $v_{p}$ , its x- and y-components are the sums of the x- and y-components of the wind and plane velocities. Note that the plane only has vertical component of velocity so $v_{p x} = 0$ and $v_{p y} = v_{p}$ . That is,

3.83

v_{tot x} = v_{w x}

and

3.84

v_{tot y} = v_{w y} + v_{p} .

We can use the first of these two equations to find $v_{w x}$

3.85

v_{w x} = v_{tot x} = v_{tot} cos 110º .

Because $v_{tot} = 38 . 0 m / s$ and $cos 110º = - 0.342$ we have

3.86

v_{w x} = (38 . 0 m/s) (–0 . 342) =–13 . 0 m/s.

The minus sign indicates motion west which is consistent with the diagram.

Now, to find $v_{w y}$ we note that

3.87

v_{tot y} = v_{w y} + v_{p} .

Here $v_{tot y} = v_{tot} sin 110º$ ; thus,

3.88

v_{w y} = (38 . 0 m/s) (0.940) - 45 . 0 m/s = - 9 . 29 m/s.

This minus sign indicates motion south which is consistent with the diagram.

Now that the perpendicular components of the wind velocity $v_{w x}$ and $v_{w y}$ are known, we can find the magnitude and direction of $v_{w}$ . First, the magnitude is

3.89

\begin{array}{l} v_{w} & = & \sqrt{v_{w x}^{2} + v_{w y}^{2}} \\ = & \sqrt{(- 13 . 0 m/s)^{2} + (- 9 . 29 m/s)^{2}} \end{array}

so that

3.90

v_{w} = 16 . 0 m/s .

The direction is

3.91

θ = {tan}^{- 1} (v_{w y} / v_{w x}) = {tan}^{- 1} (- 9 . 29 / - 13 . 0)

giving

3.92

θ = 35 . 6º .

Discussion

The wind's speed and direction are consistent with the significant effect the wind has on the total velocity of the plane, as seen in Figure 3.48. Because the plane is fighting a strong combination of crosswind and head-wind, it ends up with a total velocity significantly less than its velocity relative to the air mass as well as heading in a different direction.

Note that in both of the last two examples, we were able to make the mathematics easier by choosing a coordinate system with one axis parallel to one of the velocities. We will repeatedly find that choosing an appropriate coordinate system makes problem solving easier. For example, in projectile motion we always use a coordinate system with one axis parallel to gravity.

Relative Velocities and Classical Relativity

When adding velocities, we have been careful to specify that the velocity is relative to some reference frame. These velocities are called relative velocities. For example, the velocity of an airplane relative to an air mass is different from its velocity relative to the ground. Both are quite different from the velocity of an airplane relative to its passengers, which should be close to zero. Relative velocities are one aspect of relativity, which is defined to be the study of how different observers moving relative to each other measure the same phenomenon.

Nearly everyone has heard of relativity and immediately associates it with Albert Einstein (1879–1955), the greatest physicist of the twentieth century. Einstein revolutionized our view of nature with his modern theory of relativity, which we shall study in later chapters. The relative velocities in this section are actually aspects of classical relativity, first discussed correctly by Galileo and Isaac Newton. Classical relativity is limited to situations where speeds are less than about 1 percent of the speed of light—that is, less than $3,000 km/s$ . Most things we encounter in daily life move slower than this speed.

Let us consider an example of what two different observers see in a situation analyzed long ago by Galileo. Suppose a sailor at the top of a mast on a moving ship drops his binoculars. Where will it hit the deck? Will it hit at the base of the mast, or will it hit behind the mast because the ship is moving forward? The answer is that if air resistance is negligible, the binoculars will hit at the base of the mast at a point directly below its point of release. Now let us consider what two different observers see when the binoculars drop. One observer is on the ship and the other on shore. The binoculars have no horizontal velocity relative to the observer on the ship, and so he sees them fall straight down the mast (see Figure 3.49). To the observer on shore, the binoculars and the ship have the same horizontal velocity, so both move the same distance forward while the binoculars are falling. This observer sees the curved path shown in Figure 3.49. Although the paths look different to the different observers, each sees the same result—the binoculars hit at the base of the mast and not behind it. To get the correct description, it is crucial to correctly specify the velocities relative to the observer.

A person is observing a moving ship from the shore. Another person is on top of ship's mast. The person in the ship drops binoculars and sees it dropping straight. The person on the shore sees the binoculars taking a curved trajectory.

Figure 3.49 Classical relativity. The same motion as viewed by two different observers. An observer on the moving ship sees the binoculars dropped from the top of its mast fall straight down. An observer on shore sees the binoculars take the curved path, moving forward with the ship. Both observers see the binoculars strike the deck at the base of the mast. The initial horizontal velocity is different relative to the two observers. The ship is shown moving rather fast to emphasize the effect.

Example 3.8 Calculating Relative Velocity: An Airline Passenger Drops a Coin

An airline passenger drops a coin while the plane is moving at 260 m/s. What is the velocity of the coin when it strikes the floor 1.50 m below its point of release: (a) Measured relative to the plane? (b) Measured relative to Earth?

A person standing on ground is observing an airplane. Inside the airplane a woman is sitting on seat. The airplane is moving in the right direction. The woman drops the coin which is vertically downwards for her but the person on ground sees the coin moving horizontally towards right.

Figure 3.50 The motion of a coin dropped inside an airplane as viewed by two different observers. (a) An observer in the plane sees the coin fall straight down. (b) An observer on the ground sees the coin move almost horizontally.

Strategy

Both problems can be solved with the techniques for falling objects and projectiles. In part (a), the initial velocity of the coin is zero relative to the plane, so the motion is that of a falling object (one-dimensional). In part (b), the initial velocity is 260 m/s horizontal relative to Earth and gravity is vertical, so this motion is a projectile motion. In both parts, it is best to use a coordinate system with vertical and horizontal axes.

Solution for (a)

Using the given information, we note that the initial velocity and position are zero, and the final position is 1.50 m. The final velocity can be found using the equation

3.93

{v_{y}}^{2} = {v_{0 y}}^{2} - 2 g (y - y_{0}) .

Substituting known values into the equation, we get

3.94

{v_{y}}^{2} = 0^{2} - 2 (9.80 {m/s}^{2}) (- 1 . 50 m - 0 m) = 29 . 4 m^{2} {/s}^{2}

yielding

3.95

v_{y} = - 5 . 42 m/s.

We know that the square root of 29.4 has two roots: 5.42 and 5.42. We choose the negative root because we know that the velocity is directed downwards, and we have defined the positive direction to be upwards. There is no initial horizontal velocity relative to the plane and no horizontal acceleration, and so the motion is straight down relative to the plane.

Solution for (b)

Because the initial vertical velocity is zero relative to the ground and vertical motion is independent of horizontal motion, the final vertical velocity for the coin relative to the ground is $v_{y} = - 5.42 m/s$ , the same as found in part (a). In contrast to part (a), there now is a horizontal component of the velocity. However, since there is no horizontal acceleration, the initial and final horizontal velocities are the same and $v_{x} = 260 m/s$ . The x- and y-components of velocity can be combined to find the magnitude of the final velocity

3.96

v = \sqrt{{v_{x}}^{2} + {v_{y}}^{2}} .

Thus,

3.97

v = \sqrt{(260 m/s)^{2} + (- 5 . 42 m/s)^{2}}

yielding

3.98

v = 260 . 06 m/s.

The direction is given by

3.99

θ = {tan}^{- 1} (v_{y} / v_{x}) = {tan}^{- 1} (- 5 . 42 / 260)

so that

3.100

θ = {tan}^{- 1} (- 0 . 0208) = - 1 . 19º .

Discussion

In part (a), the final velocity relative to the plane is the same as it would be if the coin were dropped from rest on Earth and fell 1.50 m. This result fits our experience; objects in a plane fall the same way when the plane is flying horizontally as when it is at rest on the ground. This result is also true in moving cars. In part (b), an observer on the ground sees a much different motion for the coin. The plane is moving so fast horizontally to begin with that its final velocity is barely greater than the initial velocity. Once again, we see that in two dimensions, vectors do not add like ordinary numbers—the final velocity v in part (b) is not $(260 – 5 . 42) m/s;$ rather, it is $260 . 06 m/s$ . The velocity's magnitude had to be calculated to five digits to see any difference from that of the airplane. The motions as seen by different observers—one in the plane and one on the ground—in this example are analogous to those discussed for the binoculars dropped from the mast of a moving ship, except that the velocity of the plane is much larger, so that the two observers see very different paths (see Figure 3.50). In addition, both observers see the coin fall 1.50 m vertically, but the one on the ground also sees it move forward 144 m this calculation is left for the reader. Thus, one observer sees a vertical path, the other a nearly horizontal path.

Making Connections: Relativity and Einstein

Because Einstein was able to clearly define how measurements are made (some involve light) and because the speed of light is the same for all observers, the outcomes are spectacularly unexpected. Time varies with observer, energy is stored as increased mass, and more surprises await.

PhET Explorations: Motion in Two Dimensions

Try the new Ladybug Motion 2D simulation for the latest updated version. Learn about position, velocity, and acceleration vectors. Move the ball with the mouse or let the simulation move the ball in four types of motion (two types of linear, simple harmonic, circle).

This icon links to a P H E T Interactive activity when clicked.

Figure 3.51 Motion in 2D