Lesson 4.

Motion Descriptors
in Two Dimensions

General Physics 1/2

1
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Motion does not exist in isolation. Any object
that moves does so in respect to a particular
reference.
When is velocity considered
to be relative?
Learning Competency
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the
following:

Describe motion using the concept of

relative velocities in 1D and 2D
(STEM_GP12KIN-Ic-20).
 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the
following:

● Explain what relative velocity is.

● Solve the relative velocity of objects in one

dimension.

● Solve the relative velocity of objects in two

dimensions.
 Relative Velocity

It refers to the velocity of an object A from the frame of

reference of another observer or object B.

This equation also tells us that the resultant velocity is

the summation of all the vectors under consideration.
 Relative Velocity

What do you think happens to the equation when

object B moves in the opposite direction (in reference
to object A)?
 Relative Velocity in One Dimension

Relative velocity in one dimension entails the individual

motions of an object and its observer in a linear
direction.

frame of
reference

object to be
observed
 Relative Velocity in One Dimension

What is the difference between the two relative

velocities shown below?
 Solving Relative Velocity in 1D

Consider, for instance,

that you are seated
inside a train with a
velocity of 15 m/s in
the westward
direction. The velocity
of the train is 15 m/s
west with respect to
the Earth’s surface.
 Solving Relative Velocity in 1D

If you walk towards the west with a velocity of 12 m/s,

what will be your velocity relative to the train?
 Solving Relative Velocity in 1D

If another train, this time moving in the eastward

direction, arrives with the velocity of 16 m/s, what will
be the relative velocity of the first train in reference to
the second train?
 Solving Relative Velocity in 1D

Car A is moving eastward at 80 km/h, and Car B is

moving in the same direction at 60 km/h. Find the
relative velocity of Car A with respect to Car B, and
interpret the result.
 Solving Relative Velocity in 1D

A train is moving northward at 90 km/h, while a car on

a parallel road next to the train track is moving
northward at 70 km/h. What is the relative velocity of
the car with respect to the train?
 Solving Relative Velocity in 1D

Two cyclists start from the same point and head in

opposite directions. Cyclist A is moving east at 15
km/h, while Cyclist B is moving west at 20 km/h. What
is the relative velocity of Cyclist A with respect to
Cyclist B?
 Solving Relative Velocity in 1D

A plane is flying southward at 500 km/h. At the same

time, a helicopter is flying southward, 150 km behind
the plane, at a speed of 550 km/h. How fast is the
helicopter approaching the plane?
 Solving Relative Velocity in 1D

Two cars are driving on a straight road in opposite

directions. Car X is moving eastward at 100 km/h, while
Car Y is moving westward at 80 km/h. Find the relative
velocity of Car X with respect to Car Y.
Tips

Note that the negative value in the

reference object signifies that “it has
moved away from the object
observed at a given velocity in the
opposite direction”.
Remember

Velocities vary depending on the

frames of reference from where
motion is observed. However, the
physical situation remains the same.
This is where the word “relative”
comes into play.
Remember

When relative velocity is under

consideration, the velocity of the
reference frame must always be
constant and not accelerating, i.e., it
must either be zero (at rest) or have
a uniform speed in a straight line.
What does relative velocity
in one dimension mean?
 Relative Velocity in Two Dimensions

In two dimensions, the magnitude of the resultant

velocity is calculated using the Pythagorean theorem:
 Solving Relative Velocity in 2D

Consider an airplane traveling south with a velocity of

113 km/hr. It experiences a side wind that has a speed
of 22 km/hr.
 Solving Relative Velocity in 2D

To identify the resultant velocity, you must get the

vector sum of the two velocities under consideration.
 Solving Relative Velocity in 2D

Next, to calculate the direction of the relative velocity,

use the tangent function, as follows:
How do we compute the
relative velocity of an object
moving perpendicularly
from or to its frame of
reference?
 Let’s Practice!

Two cars, A and B, are traveling on a straight

road. Car A is moving north at 20 m/s, and car
B is moving east at 15 m/s. What is the
relative velocity of car B with respect to car A?
 Let’s Practice!

A boat is moving at 10 m/s towards the east in

still water. A river has a current of 5 m/s
towards the north. What is the velocity of the
boat relative to the bank of the river?
 Let’s Practice!

A plane is flying with a velocity of 200 m/s

towards the west. A wind is blowing with a
velocity of 50 m/s towards the north. What is
the velocity of the plane relative to the
ground?
 Let’s Practice!

Two cars, A and B, are traveling on a straight

road. Car A is moving north at 20 m/s, and car
B is moving east at 15 m/s. What is the
relative velocity of car B with respect to car A?
 Let’s Practice!

A motorboat heads north with a velocity of 5

m/s on a river whose current is moving at a
velocity of 2 m/s to the west. What is the
velocity of the motorboat relative to a person
watching it from the riverbank?
Try It!

A motorcycle is heading north with

a velocity of 87 km/ hr towards an
intersection. A bus is travelling
west toward the same intersection
at a velocity of 92 km/ hr. What is
the velocity of the bus relative to
the motorcycle?
 Check Your
Understanding
Solve the following problems.

1. A motorcycle speeding at 135 km/h overtakes a

taxi running with a velocity of 97 km/h. What is the
velocity of the motorcycle from the perspective of
the taxi’s driver?
2. A cargo plane heading east flies with a velocity of
785 mph. A private plane proceeds west with a
velocity of 815 mph. Calculate the relative velocity
of the private plane from the point of view of the
 Let’s Sum It Up!

● Relative velocity (vBA) refers to the velocity

of an object A from the frame of reference of
another observer or object B.
● When relative velocity is under consideration,
the velocity of the reference frame must
always be constant and not accelerating,
i.e., it must either be zero (at rest) or have a
uniform speed in a straight line.
 Let’s Sum It Up!

● A reference object that is moving away from

the object observed assumes a negative
velocity.

● To calculate for the magnitude of the

relative velocity of objects moving in two
dimensions, use the Pythagorean theorem.

● To calculate the direction of the resultant

 Key Formulas

Concept Formula Description

Use this formula to

Relative Velocity
solve for the relative
in One Dimension
where velocity of Object A
● vAB is the relative with respect to the
velocity of A reference, Object B
compared to B; when Objects A and
● vA is the velocity of B are moving in a
the object
linear course.
observed, and
● vB is the velocity of
the frame of
reference.
 Key Formulas

Concept Formula Description

Use this formula to

Relative Velocity
solve for the relative
in Two Dimensions
where velocity of Object A
● vAB is the relative with respect to the
velocity of A reference, Object B
compared to B; when Objects A and
● vA is the velocity of B are moving in
the object
two dimensions,
observed, and
e.g., perpendicularly.
● vB is the velocity of
the frame of
reference.
Challenge Yourself

Is there such a thing as motion

at rest? Why or why not?
Bibliography

Hewitt, Paul G. 2010. Conceptual Physics (11th ed). New York: Pearson Education.

Holt, R., Serway, R., & Faugn, J. (2006). Physics. Austin, TX.

Macalalad, E. P. and Vergara, R. L. 2011. Exploring the Realms of Science: Physics. Valenzuela
City: JO-ES Publishing House, Inc.

Vincent P. Coletta. Physics Fundamentals. Physics Curriculum & Instruction, Inc.: 2010.
Walker, J., Halliday, D., & Resnick, R. (2011). Fundamentals of physics. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.