Relative Motion in One Dimension - NEET Physics Questions
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Relative Motion in One Dimension

Question 11: difficult

Two bodies are moving such that their (x)-coordinates are changing according to the law, \( X_1 = -3 + 2t + t^2 \) and \( X_2 = 7 – 8t + t^2 \). The relative speed (V) of bodies at the time of their meeting will be :

1. \(25 \text{ m/s}\)
2. \(15\text{ m/s}\)
3. \(5\text{ m/s}\)
4. \(10\text{ m/s} \)
View Answer

For meeting, equate positions: \(X_1 = X_2  -3 + 2t + t^2 = 7 - 8t + t^2;  10t = 10; t = 1 \text{ s} \). Differentiating positions gives velocities: \(v_1 = 2+2t = 4\text{ m/s}\) and \(v_2 = -8+2t = -6\text{ m/s}\) at \(t=1\text{ s}\). Relative speed \(V = |v_1 - v_2| = 10 \text {m/s}\).

Question 12:

Two balls are thrown simultaneously, (A) vertically upwards with a speed of \(20\text{ m/s}\) from the ground and (B) vertically downwards from a height of \(80\text{ m}\) with the same speed and along the same line of motion. At which point will the balls collide? (take \(g = 10\text{ m/s}^2\)

1. 15 m above the ground
2. 15 m below from the top of the tower
3. 20 m above from the ground
4. 20 m below from the top of the tower
View Answer

Let \(y_A = 20t - 5t^2\) and \(y_B = 80 - 20t - 5t^2\). Equating them for collision: \(20t - 5t^2 = 80 - 20t - 5t^2\). This simplifies to \(40t = 80\), so \(t = 2\) s. The collision height is \(y_A(2) = 20(2) - 5(2)^2 = 40 - 20 = 20\) m above the ground.

Question 13: moderate

While sitting on a tree branch \(20\text{m}\) above the ground, you drop a walnut. When the walnut has fallen \(5\text{m}\) you throws a second walnut straight down. What initial speed must you give the second walnut if they are both to reach the ground at the same time? (g=\(10\text{m/s}^2\))

1. 5 m\(s^{-1}\)
2. 10 m\(s^{-1}\)
3. 15 m\(s^{-1}\)
4. None of these
View Answer

First walnut (W1): Time to fall 5m from rest is \(t_1 = \sqrt{2s/g} = \sqrt{2 \cdot 5/10} = 1\) s. Total time for W1 to reach ground from 20m is \(t_{total} = \sqrt{2 \cdot 20/10} = 2\) s. Second walnut (W2) must fall 15m in \(t_{W2} = t_{total} - t_1 = 2-1 = 1\) s. Using \(s = v_0t + (1/2)gt^2\): \(15 = v_0(1) + (1/2)(10)(1)^2 \Rightarrow 15 = v_0 + 5 \Rightarrow v_0 = 10\text{ m/s}\).

Question 14: easy

A body A is thrown up vertically from the ground with velocity \(v_0\) and another body B is simultaneously dropped from a height H. They meet at a height \(H/2\) if \(v_0^2\) is equal to

1. \(2gH\)
2. \(gH\)
3. \((1/4)gH\)
4. \((2g)/H\)
View Answer

Position of B: \(y_B(t) = H - (1/2)gt^2\). Meeting at \(H/2\): \(H/2 = H - (1/2)gt^2 \Rightarrow (1/2)gt^2 = H/2 \Rightarrow t = \sqrt{H/g}\). Position of A: \(y_A(t) = v_0t - (1/2)gt^2\). At meeting: \(H/2 = v_0t - H/2 \Rightarrow H = v_0t\). Substitute \(t\): \(H = v_0 \sqrt{H/g}\). Squaring both sides gives \(H^2 = v_0^2 (H/g) \Rightarrow v_0^2 = gH\).

Question 15: easy

A person walks up a stalled escalator in 45 sec. He is carried in 60s, when standing on the same escalator which is now moving. The time he would take to walk up the moving escalator will be :

1. 27 s
2. 72 s
3. 18 s
4. 25.71 s
View Answer

Let the length of the escalator be \(L\). Speed of person is \(v_p = L/45\). Speed of escalator is \(v_e = L/60\). When both move, their effective speed is \(v_{eff} = v_p + v_e = L/45 + L/60 = (4L+3L)/180 = 7L/180\). The time taken \(T = L/v_{eff} = L / (7L/180) = 180/7 \approx 25.71\) s.

Question 16: moderate

A bus starts from rest moving with an acceleration of \(2\text{ m/s}^2\). A cyclist, 96 m behind the bus starts simultaneously towards the bus at a speed of \(20\text{ m/s}\). After what time will bus overtake the cycle :

1. 8 s
2. 10 s
3. 12 s
4. 1 s
View Answer

Let the bus's position be \(x_b = (1/2)at^2 = t^2\). The cyclist's position (starting 96m behind) is \(x_c = 20t - 96\). For meeting, \(t^2 = 20t - 96 \Rightarrow t^2 - 20t + 96 = 0\). Factoring gives \((t-8)(t-12) = 0\), so \(t=8\)s or \(t=12\)s. At \(t=8\)s, cyclist is faster than bus. At \(t=12\)s, bus is faster, so it overtakes.

Question 17: moderate

A boat takes 2 hours to go 10 km and come back in still water lake. The time taken for going 10 km upstream and coming back with water velocity of \(5\text{ km/h}\).

1. 140 min
2. 150 min
3. 160 min
4. 170 min
View Answer

In still water, total distance is 20 km in 2 hours, so boat speed \(v_b = 10\text{ km/h}\). Water velocity \(v_w = 5\text{ km/h}\). Upstream speed \(v_b - v_w = 5\text{ km/h}\). Time upstream = \(10/5 = 2\) hours. Downstream speed \(v_b + v_w = 15\text{ km/h}\). Time downstream = \(10/15 = 2/3\) hours. Total time = \(2 + 2/3 = 8/3\) hours = \(160\) minutes.

Question 18: moderate

Two bodies are held separated by \(9.8\text{ m}\) vertically one above the other. They are released simultaneously to fall freely under gravity. After \(2\text{ s}\) the relative distance between them is :

1. 4.9 m
2. 19.6 m
3. 9.8 m
4. 39.2m
View Answer

Both bodies are released simultaneously and fall under gravity. Their acceleration is identical (\(g\)). Since their initial relative velocity is zero and relative acceleration is zero, their relative distance remains constant. Thus, after \(2\) s, the relative distance is still \(9.8\) m.

Question 19: easy

Two trains each of length \(100\text{ m}\) are running on parallel tracks. One overtakes the other in \(20\text{ s}\) when they are moving in the same direction and crosses the other in \(10\text{ s}\) when they move in the opposite directions. The velocities of the two trains are:

1. \(15\text{ m/s}\) & \(5\text{ m/s}\)
2. \(25\text{ m/s}\) & \(15\text{ m/s}\)
3. \(10\text{ m/s}\) & \(10\text{ m/s}\)
4. \(30\text{ m/s}\) & \(10\text{ m/s}\)
View Answer

Let the velocities be \(v_1\) and \(v_2\). Distance to cross is \(100 + 100 = 200\text{ m}\). For same direction: \(v_1 - v_2 = 200/20 = 10\text{ m/s}\). For opposite direction: \(v_1 + v_2 = 200/10 = 20\text{ m/s}\). Solving these gives \(v_1 = 15\text{ m/s}\) and \(v_2 = 5\text{ m/s}\).

Question 20: moderate

Two bodies separated by a distance of \(‘s’\) start moving towards each other with speeds of \(v\) and \(2v\) respectively. The uniform acceleration with which the first body should move so that they meet at the middle is:

1. \(\frac{v^2}{s}\)
2. \(\frac{v^2}{2s}\)
3. \(\frac{8v^2}{s}\)
4. \(\frac{4v^2}{s}\)
View Answer

The second body travels \(s/2\) at constant speed \(2v\) in time \(t = s/(4v)\). For the first body: \(s/2 = vt + \frac{1}{2}at^2\). Substituting \(t\) gives \(s/2 = s/4 + a s^2 / (32v^2)\), which simplifies to \(a = 8v^2/s\).