08/09/2023

MILITARY NAVIGATION
ATTACK PHASE – PHY352 (FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICS)

INTENDED LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Determine the relative velocity of an object for observers in different frames of
reference.

2. Apply knowledge of physics concepts and principles to explain military

navigation.

2 REFERENCE: PHY352 Program of Instruction AY 2023-2024

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OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

01 Review of Military Navigation

02 Relative Motion

No ACTs for today

RELATIVE MOTION
THE PHYSICS OF MILITARY NAVIGATION

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RELATIVE MOTION
» Relative motion refers to motion observed from different perspectives

▪ A reference frame or simply a frame is a coordinate system attached to an observer’s

particular perspective

▪ An observer’s perspective depends only on the observer’s motion

▪ Measurement of motion depend on the observer’s perspective

▪ Most of the time, we use a stationary frame of reference relative to Earth

• But occasionally we use a moving frame of reference associated with a bus, car, or plane
moving with constant velocity relative to Earth

5 REFERENCES: [1] Serway & Jewett Physics for Scientists & Engineers, Ch. 4.5 pp. 85-88; [2] Young & Freedman University Physics, Ch. 3.5 pp. 84-89; [3] Operation Pisika: Modules in PHY352 for PMA Cadets, Mod. 4 p. 42-43

RELATIVE MOTION IN 1 OR 2 DIMENSIONS

Observer B
moving frame of reference motion being observed

Observer A
stationary frame of reference
6 REFERENCES: [1] Serway & Jewett Physics for Scientists & Engineers, Ch. 4.5 pp. 85-88; [2] Young & Freedman University Physics, Ch. 3.5 pp. 84-89; [3] Operation Pisika: Modules in PHY352 for PMA Cadets, Mod. 4 p. 42-43

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RELATIVE MOTION IN 1 OR 2 DIMENSIONS

» Imagine that the motion of a particle P is being described by two observers
▪ Observer A in a reference frame SA fixed relative to the Earth
▪ Observer B in a reference frame SB moving to the right relative to SA
(and therefore relative to the Earth) with a constant velocity 𝒗𝐵𝐴

▪ At time t 𝒓𝑃𝐴 the position of P as measured by A

𝒓𝑃𝐵 the position of P as measured by B

𝒗𝐵𝐴 the velocity of B relative to A

𝒓𝑃𝐴 = 𝒓𝑃𝐵 + 𝒗𝐵𝐴 𝑡

7 REFERENCES: [1] Serway & Jewett Physics for Scientists & Engineers, Ch. 4.5 pp. 85-88; [2] Young & Freedman University Physics, Ch. 3.5 pp. 84-89; [3] Operation Pisika: Modules in PHY352 for PMA Cadets, Mod. 4 p. 42-43

RELATIVE MOTION IN 1 OR 2 DIMENSIONS

▪ Differentiating the equation with respect to time, noting that
𝒗𝐵𝐴 is constant
𝒓𝑃𝐴 = 𝒓𝑃𝐵 + 𝒗𝐵𝐴 𝑡

𝑑𝒓𝑃𝐴 𝑑𝒓𝑃𝐵 𝑑 𝒗𝐵𝐴 𝑡

= +
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝒖𝑃𝐴 = 𝒖𝑃𝐵 + 𝒗𝐵𝐴

𝒖𝑃𝐴 the velocity of P as measured by A

𝒖𝑃𝐵 the velocity of P as measured by B

𝒗𝐵𝐴 the velocity of B relative to A

8 REFERENCES: [1] Serway & Jewett Physics for Scientists & Engineers, Ch. 4.5 pp. 85-88; [2] Young & Freedman University Physics, Ch. 3.5 pp. 84-89; [3] Operation Pisika: Modules in PHY352 for PMA Cadets, Mod. 4 p. 42-43

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RELATIVE VELOCITY
» The equations for relative motion are applicable
whether or not the reference frames are occupied by
human observers

▪ [Example] In the case of an airplane, we can define two

reference frames: one attached to the ground and
another attached to the wind
▪ The ground velocity gauge gives the airplane’s velocity
relative to the ground (groundspeed)
▪ The air velocity gauge gives its velocity relative to the
wind (airspeed)

Groundspeed = Airspeed + Windspeed

𝒗𝐴𝐺 = 𝒗𝐴𝑊 + 𝒗𝑊𝐺

9 REFERENCES: [1] Serway & Jewett Physics for Scientists & Engineers, Ch. 4.5 pp. 85-88; [2] Young & Freedman University Physics, Ch. 3.5 pp. 84-89; [3] Operation Pisika: Modules in PHY352 for PMA Cadets, Mod. 4 p. 42-43

SAMPLE PROBLEM
An ensign going for a morning jog on the deck of a
naval ship is running toward the stern (rear) of the ship 𝒗𝐽𝑆 𝒗𝐽𝑊
at 2.0 m/s while the ship is moving ahead at 8.5 m/s.
What is the velocity of the jogger relative to the water?

𝒗𝐽𝑆 = −2.0𝑚/𝑠 𝒗𝑆𝑊 𝑥 = +8.5𝑚/𝑠

𝑥

𝒗𝑆𝑊
𝒗𝐽𝑊 𝑥
= 𝒗𝐽𝑆 𝑥
+ 𝒗𝑆𝑊 𝑥

𝒗𝐽𝑊 𝑥
= −2.0𝑚/𝑠 + 8.5𝑚/𝑠

𝒗𝐽𝑊 𝑥
= +6.5𝑚/𝑠 (in the direction the ship is moving)
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NEXT MEETING
» Monday – Continuation of Relative Motion
▪ More Sample Problems
▪ Download and answer – Guided Problem Solving 2.3: Relative Motion [pdf]

» Tuesday – LEUTS

» Wednesday (13 September 2023) – Unit Examination 2

▪ Module 3 (Vectors, Land Navigation)
▪ Module 4 (Kinematics, Relative Motion)
▪ Experiment 4
▪ Experiment 5

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END OF PRESENTATION
REFERENCES:
Serway, R. A. & Jewett, J. W. (2019). Physics for scientists and
engineers (10th ed.). Cengage Learning. (Ch. 4.6 pp.
85-88)
Young, H. D. & Freedman, R. A. (2020). University physics
(15th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc. (Ch. 3.5 pp. 84-89)
Physics Faculty, PMA (2023). Operation Pisika: modules in
PHY352 for PMA cadets. (Mod. 4 pp. 42-43)