JIF103 PHYSICS 1

Worksheet 2
Solve Galilean Transformation of Velocity
(Cases: one dimension & two dimensions)

How to relate the velocity of a moving object

observed by you and your friend

uconstant << c
y y’
v, t
v’, t’
moving object

you x your friend x’

Classical Relativity Maths Problem Solving Series

 Illustrate galilean transformation of velocity ( u << c) (one dimension: either x or y only)

uconstant

v, t v’, t’
v = u + v’

u v’ moving
(measured in moving frame)
object

you your friend

Worksheet 2 Galilean transformation of velocity JIF 103 Galilean transformation: mathematics of classical relativity 2
To help you learn on how to transform the velocity (one dimensional: along x only or along y only) from one reference
frame to the other when the relative speed << c, let’s go over Example 2.1 and Example 2.2

Example 2.1 Use galilean transformation to calculate the velocity

A camera in a police car travelling at 90 km h−1 displays the speed of a lorry to be 35 km h−1. What is
the speed of the lorry to a stationary police car along side the road?

Steps Actions

1 Sketch the situation

u = 90 km h−1

v=?

v’ = 35 km h−1

speed camera

1 From the question, identify the relative speed

speed << c, so use galilean transformation to calculate the velocity

A camera in a police car travelling at 90 km h−1 displays the speed of a lorry to be 35 km h−1. What
is the speed of the lorry to a stationary police car along side the road?

3 Solve using the galilean transformation of velocity equation

v = u + v′ =90 + 35 =125 km h −1

Worksheet 2 Galilean transformation of velocity JIF 103 Galilean transformation: mathematics of classical relativity 3
Example 2.2 Use galilean transformation to calculate the velocity

Mary is driving a car at 60 m s−1. A motorcyle traveling at 90 m s−1 is catching up from behind. What
is the speed of the motorcycle relative to Mary?

Steps Actions

1 Sketch the situation

u = 60 m s−1

v = 90 m s−1

v’ = ?
Mary

1 From the question, identify the relative speed

speed << c, so use galilean transformation to calculate the velocity

Mary is driving a car at 60 m s−1. A motorcyle traveling at 90 m s−1 is catching up from behind.
What is the speed of the motorcycle relative to Mary?

3 Solve using the galilean transformation of velocity equation

v = u + v′ → v′ = v − u = 90 − 60 = 30 m s −1

Worksheet 2 Galilean transformation of velocity JIF 103 Galilean transformation: mathematics of classical relativity 4
Activity 2.1 Solve the following galilean transformation of velocity

1. A sailor in his yacht heading in at 6 m s−1 from sea. If he measures the ocean waves speed to be 4 m s−1,
what is the speed of the ocean waves as they approach the beach?

2. Mary is driving a car at 60 m s−1. If a motorcyle is following her at 10 m s−1, what is the speed of the
motorcycle relative to Mary? What is the meaning of this speed?

3. A newspaper delivery boy riding a motorcycle throws a newspaper at a speed of 5 m s−1. If the
newspaper flies towards you at a ground speed of 12 m s−1, what is his speed?

Worksheet 2 Galilean transformation of velocity JIF 103 Galilean transformation: mathematics of classical relativity 5
4. A rocket travelling upwards at speed 350 m s−1. An astronaut throwns a ball vertically upwards at
30 m s−1. What is the speed of the
(a) ball relative to the misson controller on the Earth.

(b) mission controller relative to the ball?

5. A car is travelling at 90 km h−1 and a lorry is travelling at 110 km h−1 in the opposite direction.
What is the speed of the
(a) lorry relative to the car?

(b) car relative to the lorry?

Worksheet 2 Galilean transformation of velocity JIF 103 Galilean transformation: mathematics of classical relativity 6
6. A limping runner crosses the finish line of a marathon. The roar of the crowd behind him
approaches at 330 m s−1 and the roar from the crowd in front of him approaches at 350 m s−1.
What is his speed and the speed of sound?

7. Azam who stands by the road side sees a car travelling ahead at 45 km s−1 and a lorry at speed
u. Determine the speed of the lorry, u such that the driver of the lorry will see both Azam and
the car approach each other at the same speed.

Worksheet 2 Galilean transformation of velocity JIF 103 Galilean transformation: mathematics of classical relativity 7
8. Nora has a normal walking speed of 1.3 m s−1. She is at KLIA 2. In front of her is a 100 m
moving sidewalk that carries passengers at 0.6 m s−1.

(a) How long does she take to travel the full length of the sidewalk if she
(i) stands on the sidewalk?

(ii) walk at her normal walking speed on the sidewalk?

(b) When she reaches the end of the sidewalk, she suddenly realizes that she left her hand
luggage at the opposite end. If she walks back rapidly on the sidewalk at double her
normal walking speed to retrieve her luggage, how long does it take her to reach her
luggage?

Worksheet 2 Galilean transformation of velocity JIF 103 Galilean transformation: mathematics of classical relativity 8
To help you learn on how to transform the velocity (two dimensional: along both x and y) from one reference frame to the
other when the relative speed << c, let’s go over Example 2.3

Example 2.3 Use galilean transformation to calculate the velocity (two dimensions: both x and y)

An airplane is flying due north with a speed of 450 km h−1 relative to still air. The airport tower
controller states that there is a 70 km h−1 wind towards east. What is the velocity of the plane
measured by the airport tower controller?

Steps Actions

1 Sketch the situation N

u x = 70 km h −1

v y = v 'y = 450 km h −1 v
W E

2 From the question, identify the relative speed

speed << c, so use galilean transformation to calculate the velocity

An airplane is flying due north with a speed of 450 km h−1 relative to still air. The airport tower
controller states that there is a 70 km h−1 wind towards east. What is the velocity of the plane
measured by the airport tower controller?

3 Solve using the galilean transformation of velocity equation

vx = u x + v′x = 70 + 0 = 70 km h −1

v y =u y + v′y =0 + 450 =450 km h −1

v= vx + v y = 702 + 4502 = 455.4 km hr −1

2 2
Get the resultant velocity using the Pythagoras theorem

v 450 θ represent the direction of the velocity

θ= tan −1 y= tan −1 = 81°
vx 70 (velocity = vector quantitiy → need to have both magnitude and direction)

Worksheet 2 Galilean transformation of velocity JIF 103 Galilean transformation: mathematics of classical relativity 9
Activity 2.2 Solve the following galilean transformation of velocity in either one or two dimensions

9. A sail boat is cruising due south at 38 m s−1 in calm water. Suddenly a gush of 45 m s−1
westerly wind hits the sails. What is the new velocity of the boat?

10. A pilot of a small aircraft would like to go eastwards. To maintain a easterly course in a strong
and steady wind, he has to point the aircraft nose at an angle of 35° east of north cruising at a
speed of 62 m s−1. What would he report the wind condition to the nearest airport controller?

Worksheet 2 Galilean transformation of velocity JIF 103 Galilean transformation: mathematics of classical relativity 10
11. Azman is in a train travelling at 25 m s−1. According to a bystander near the rail track, what is
the velocity of a ball if Azman throws it
(a) forward at 13 m s−1?

(b) backward at 13 m s−1?

(c) to the side at 13 m s−1?

12. Daniel is piloting a small boat in a river estuary. He would like to drop off his passengers
600 m due west across the estuary of their pick-up point. On a calm river, it takes him 1 hr to
reach his destination. However with strong northerly river tide, it takes him 1.3 hr with the bow
of his boat at an angle of 40° west of south. What would he report to his fellow boatman about
the velocity of the tide?

Worksheet 2 Galilean transformation of velocity JIF 103 Galilean transformation: mathematics of classical relativity 11
13. In still water, Aziz is capable of swimming at a speed of 1.2 m s−1. Compare the time he takes
to swim a 10 m roundtrip upstream-downstream with a 10 m roundtrip across and back
(a) in still water.

(b) in a stream in which the current is 0.5 m s−1.

(c) What can you conclude from these calculations?

Worksheet 2 Galilean transformation of velocity JIF 103 Galilean transformation: mathematics of classical relativity 12
Time to reflect:

What is your strategy in solving the galilean transformation of velocity?

Case velocity in ONE dimension: either x or y only

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Case velocity in TWO dimensions: both x and y

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Worksheet 2 Galilean transformation of velocity JIF 103 Galilean transformation: mathematics of classical relativity 13
ANSWER WORKSHEET 2 Solve Galilean Transformation of Velocity

No Answer

1 v = 10 m s−1

2 v’ = −50 m s−1 negative speed means the motorcycle is receeding from Mary

3 u = 7 m s− 1

4 (a) vball relative to mission controller = 380 m s−1

(b) vmission controller relative to ball = −380 m s−1

5 (a) v’lorry relative to car = −200 m s−1

(b) v’car relative to lorry = 200 m s−1

6 urunner = 10 m s−1
vsound = 340 m s−1

7 ulorry = 22.5 m s−1

8 (a) (i) tNora = 166.7 s

(ii) tNora = 52.6 s
(b) tNora = 50 s

Naming the velocities of the 2 dimensional Galilean transformation of velocity:

u = velocity of medium
v’ = velocity of the object relative to medium
v = resultant velocity of object (object end up with this velocity)

9 vnew = 58.9 m s−1 θ = 40° velocity, v

has 2 parts:
• magnitude, v
• direction represented by θ

10 uwind = 49 m s−1 towards south

11 (a) vball forward = 38 m s−1 forward direction

(b) vball backward = 12 m s−1 forward direction
(c) vball sideway = 28 m s−1 θ = 27°

12 utide = 0.11 m s−1 towards north

Worksheet 2 Galilean transformation of velocity JIF 103 Galilean transformation: mathematics of classical relativity 14
 13 (a) Still water: troundtrip upstream-downstream = troundtrip across & back = 8.4 s
(b) With current: troundtrip upstream-downstream = 10 s
troundtrip across & back = 9.2 s
(c) In still medium: same time for both roundtrips (upstream-downstream and roundtrip across & back)
In moving medium: different times for each roundtrip → moving medium affects troundtrip

faridah@usm.my

Worksheet 2 Galilean transformation of velocity JIF 103 Galilean transformation: mathematics of classical relativity 15