Dynamics Unit - 3 Relative Motion With Solutions
Dynamics Unit - 3 Relative Motion With Solutions
Dynamics Unit - 3 Relative Motion With Solutions
Engineering
Mechanics
Unit 3
Relative Motion
3-1
Contents
Relative motion
Relative motion of two particles along a straight line (1-D)
Relative motion in 2-D
Relative motion of rigid links
3-2
Relative Motion
We have been describing particle motion using coordinates referred to fixed reference axes.
The particle displacements, velocities and accelerations so far determined have been absolute.
Examples of relative motion applications:
two cars
fluid particles and a point on a turbine blade the analysis of the relative velocities of fluids
and mechanical systems are useful for the design of turbines, pumps, etc.
two parts of a mechanical linkage, eg. piston and crankshaft in a car engine the analysis of
the relative velocities and accelerations are useful for linkage design (see Kinematics of rigid
bodies).
Relative motion of two particles along a straight line (1-D)
Consider two particles A and B eg. 2 cars on a road
Note: x A and xB are with respect to fixed (or absolute) axes. xB / A is with respect to a moving axis.
xB xA xB / A
xB / A xB xA
vB vA vB / A
aB aA aB / A
In 2-D and 3-D motion, the positions, velocities and accelerations of the particles need to be
described in terms of vectors.
MMAN1300 Engineering Mechanics: Unit 3 Relative Motion
3-3
rB rA rB / A
rA rB rA / B
If
rB rA rB / A
and
rA rB rA / B ,
then rA / B rB / A
vB v A vB / A ,
v A / B vB / A
aB a A aB / A ,
a A / B aB / A
3-4
v A 2 m/s
30o
v B 3 m/s
a A 0.5 m/s2 in the same direction of v A
aB 0.5 m/s2 in the direction of v B
Find the relative positions, velocities and accelerations of ship B relative to ship A.
Relative position
rB / A rB rA
where
rA 300i 200 j
and
rB 200i 300 j
We add or subtract like terms only, that is, group the i terms and group the j terms
rB / A 100i 100 j
Relative velocity
vB / A vB v A
v B 3i m / s
v A 2 cos 30i 2 sin 30 j
1.73i 1.0 j m / s
v B / A 3i 1.73i 1.0 j
= (3 1.73)i 1.0 j 1.27i 1.0 j
Check the answer against a velocity vector diagram (to see if it makes sense)
vB/A
vA
vB
3-5
Relative acceleration
aB / A aB a A
a B 0.5i m / s 2
a A 0.5 cos 30i 0.5 sin 30 j
0.43i 0.25 j m / s
a B / A a B a A 0.5i 0.43i 0.25 j
= (0.5 0.43)i 0.25 j 0.93i 0.25 j
Check the answer against an acceleration vector diagram (to see if it makes sense)
aB/A
aA
aB
3-6
3-7
3-8
3-9
Example
A rigid link AB is rotating with an angular velocity and an angular acceleration . Find v B / A and
aB / A .
Imagine A is fixed and B is rotating in circular motion about A.
Velocity is always tangential to the circular path, which is perpendicular to the link AB .
v r
v B / A AB e t
aB / A at e t ane n AB et 2 AB e n
aB / A
AB
2
AB
3-10
3-11
3-12