Relative Motion Worksheet

Questions:
1. Explain the statement: “All motion is relative”.

2. When we describe motion, what is a common frame of reference?

3. A ball is thrown upward in the air by a passenger on a train that is

moving with constant velocity.
a) Describe the path of the ball as seen by the passenger.
b) Describe the as seen by a stationary observer outside the
train.
c) How would these observations change if the train were
accelerating along the track?

4. Describe the motion of the following objects if they are

observed from the stated frames of reference:
a) A person standing on a platform viewed from a train
traveling north.
b) A train traveling north viewed by a person standing on a
platform.
c) A bouncing ball dropped by a boy walking at a speed of 1 m/s
viewed by the boy.
d) A bouncing ball dropped by a boy walking 1 m/s as seen by a
nearby viewer who is stationary.

5. A fishing boat with a maximum speed of 3 m/s relative to the

water is in a river that is flowing 2 m/s.
a) What is the maximum speed the boat can obtain relative to
the shore?
b) The minimum speed?
c) Give the direction of the boat, relative to the current, for
the maximum speed and the minimum speed relative to the
shore.
6. You are piloting a boat across a fast moving river. You want to
reach a pier directly opposite your starting point. Describe how
you would navigate your boat to accomplish this.

7. Explain why it is that when you pass a car going in the same
direction as you on the highway, it takes a longer time than when
you pass a car going in the opposite direction.

8. A plane flies northeast at a speed of 563.0 km/h. A 48.0 km/h

wind is blowing to the southeast. What is the plane’s velocity
relative to the ground?

9. The wind shifts to blow 63.0 km/h towards the southwest. What
is the plane’s new velocity relative to the ground?

10. An airplane flies due northwest at 175 km/h relative to the

air. There is a wind blowing at 85 km/h due north relative to the
ground. What is the velocity of the plane relative to the ground?