INDIAN SCHOOL OF PHYSICS

1. A steamer takes a time t1 to travel a distance d up a river and time t2 to return. Prove that
the speed of the steamer is d(t1 + t2)/(2t1t2).

2. A man rows a boat directly across a river in time t, and rows an equal distance up the
stream in time T. Prove that the speed of boat in still water, bears to speed of stream the
( )( )
ratio T 2 − t 2 : T 2 + t 2 .

3. A man rows across a floating river in time t1 and rows an equal distance down the stream
in time t2. If u be the velocity of man in still water and v that of the stream, show that
t1 : t2 = u + v : u − v

4. A motor boat going downstream overcame a raft at point A. After one hour it turned back
and met the raft again at a distance 6 km from point A. Find the river velocity.
Ans. 3 km/h

5. Car A and car B start moving simultaneously in the same direction along the line joining
them. Car A with a constant acceleration a = 4 m/s2, while car B moves with a constant
velocity v = 1 m/s. At time t = 0, car A is 10 m behind car B. find the time when car A
overtakes car B.
Ans. 2.5 second

6. An elevator car whose floor to ceiling distance is equal to 2.7 m starts ascending with
constant acceleration 1.2 m/s2. 2 second after the start a bolt begins falling from the
ceiling of the car. Find:
(a) the time after which bolt hits the floor of the elevator.
(b) the net displacement and distance travelled by the bolt, with respect to earth.
(Take g = 9.8 m/s2)
Ans. (a) 0.7 Second (b) 0.72 m, 1.3 m

7. The driver of a car wishes to pass a truck that is traveling at a constant speed of 20.0 m/s.
Initially, the car is also traveling at 20.0 m/s. Initially, the vehicles are separated by 25.0
m, and the car pulls back into the truck’s lane after it is 25.0 m ahead of the truck. The
car is 5.0 m long and the truck is 20.0 m long. The car’s acceleration is a constant 0.600
m/s2. (a) How much time is required for the car to pass the truck? (b) What distance does
the car travel during this? (c) What is the final speed of the car?
Ans. (a) 15.8 sec, (b) 391 m (c) 29.5 m/s

8. An elevator without a ceiling is ascending with a constant speed of 10 m/s. A boy on the
elevator shoots a ball directly upward, from a height of 2.0 m above the elevator floor,
just as the elevator floor is 28 m above the ground, The initial speed of the ball with
 respect to the elevator is 20 m/s. (a) What maximum height above the ground does the
ball reach? (b) How long does the ball take to return to the elevator floor?
Ans. (a) 76 m (b) 4.2 sec.

9. A ball is thrown vertically upward from the 12 m level in an elevator shaft with an initial
velocity of 18 m/s. At the same instant an open platform elevator passes the 5 m level,
moving upward with a constant velocity of 2 m/s. Determine (a) when and where the ball
will hit the elevator, (b) the relative velocity of the ball with respect to the ball with
respect to the elevator when the ball hits the elevator.
Ans. (a) 3.65 s (b) 12.30 m.

10. A train of length l = 348 m moving rectilinearly with constant acceleration a=3
–2 2
10 m/s . After 30 second a ball is dropped by the driver (event 1) and after 60 second
another ball is dropped by the guard (event 2). How and at what constant velocity v
should a motorist move parallel to the train so that he observes both the events to occur in
front of him. Neglect the length of the motor.
Ans. 4 m/s

11. An automobile and a truck start from rest at the same instant, with the automobile
initially at some distance behind the truck. The truck has a constant acceleration of 2.2
m/s2 and the automobile has an acceleration of 3.5 m/s2. The automobile overtakes the
truck after the truck has moved 60 m.
(a) How much time does it takes the automobile to overtake the truck.
(b) How far was the automobile behind the truck initially.
(c) What is the speed of each when they are next each other.
Ans.(a) 7.39 sec (b) 35.5 m (c) automobile 25.9 m/s truck 16.2 m/s

12. Two ships each moving with a velocity of 15 km/h try to cross a river of breadth 1.5 km
running with a velocity of 9 km/h. One ship crosses the river by the shortest path and the
other in the shortest time. If they start together, find the interval between their times of
arriving at the opposite bank.
Ans. 1.5 min.

13. A man swims with constant velocity. He takes time t1 to swim across a river in still water
and time t2 to cross the river when the river is flowing. If b is width of the river, show that
b
velocity of the river is t2 2 − t12 .
t1t2

14. A man car row a boat in still water at 3 km/h. He can walk at a speed of 5 km/h on the
shore. The water in the river flows at 2 km/h. If the man rows across the river and walks
along the shore to reach the opposite point on the river bank, find the direction in which
he should row the boat so that he could reach the opposite shore in the least possible time.
Also calculate this time. The width of the river is 500 m.
Ans. 20 2 h.
15. Show that the dirction of shortest route is at right angles to the river when the velocity of
boat with respect to water v is greater than that of the river velocity u and in opposite case
v
it is tan–1
u − v2
2

16. A swimmer wishes to cross a 500 m wide river flowing at 5 km/h. His speed with respect
to water is 3 km/h. (a) If he heads in a direction making an angle  with the flow, find the
time he takes to cross the river. (b) Find the shortest possible time to cross the river.
10
Ans. (a) min (b) 10 min.
sin 

17. A launch plies between two points A and B on the opposite banks of a river always
following the line AB. The distance S between points A and B is 1,200 m. The velocity of
the river current v = 1.9 m/s is constant over the entire width of the river. The line AB
makes an angle  = 60º with the direction of the current. With what velocity u and at
what angle  to the line AB should the launch move to cover the distance AB and back in
a time t = 5 min? The angle  remains the same during the passage from A to B and from
B to A.

Ans. u = 8 m/s,  = 12º

18. To a man walking at the rate of 3 km/hr the rain appears to fall vertically. When he
increases his speed to 6 km/hr it appears to meet him at an angle of 45º with vertical. Find
the speed of rain.
Ans. 3 2 km/h

19. One ship sailing east, with a speed of 15 km per hour, passes a certain point at 12
noon; and a second ship, sailing north at the same speed, passes the same point at 1.30
pm At what time are they closest together, and what is the distance between them?
Ans. 12 : 45 pm, 15.9 km.
20. A destroyer streaming north at the rate of 24 km/h observes a sea-plane carrier due east of
itself at a distance of 16 km, the latter streaming due west at the rate of 32 km/h. After
what time are they at the least distance from one another and what is this least distance?
Ans. 19.2 min, 9.6 km.

21. Two ships A and B are 10 km apart on a line running south to north. Ship A farther north
is streaming west at 20 km/hr and ship B is streaming north at 20 km/hr. What is
their distance of closest approach and how long do they take to reach it?
Ans. 15 min

22. A ship A is travelling due east at 10 km/hr and at 9 A.M. is 30 km south-west of another
ship B. If B travels at 15 km/hr so as to intercept A calculate.
(a) the direction in which B must travel
(b) the time it takes when the interception takes place.
Ans. 1.48 h

23. Two particles A and B move with constant velocities v1 and v2 along two mutually
perpendicular straight lines towards the intersection point O. At moment t = 0 the
particles were located at distances l1 and l2 from O respectively. Find the time when they
are nearest and also this shortest distance.
l1v1 + l2v2 l1v2 − l2v1
Ans. ,
v12 + v2 2 v12 + v22

24. Two straight railways converge to a level crossing at an angel , and two trains are
moving towards the crossing with velocities u and v. If a and b are the initial distances of
the trains of the trains from the crossing, show that their least distance apart will be
(av − bu )sin 
u 2 + v 2 − 2uv cos 

25. Point A moves uniformly with velocity v so that the vector v is continually “aimed” at
point B which in its turn moves rectilinearly and uniformly with velocity u< v. At the
→ →
initial moment of time v ⊥ u and the points are separated by a distance l. How soon the
points converge?

26. Figure shows a small mass m hanging over a pulley. The other end of the thread is being
pulled in horizontal direction with a uniform speed u. Find the speed with which the mass
ascend at the instant the string makes an angle  with the horizontal.
 Ans. [u cos]

27. Find the speed of the block B when the wedges A and C are moving toward each other
with speed v and the strings connected to block make an angle  with the
vertical, as shown in figure

v(1 − sin  )
Ans. [vB = ]
cos 

28. Find the speed of the box-3, if box-1 and box-2 are moving with speed v1 and v2 as shown
in figure when the string makes an angle 1 and 2 with the horizontal at its left and right
end.

(v1 + v2 ) cos 1
Ans. [ − v2 ]
cos  2

29. Figure shows a pulley over which a string passes and connected to two masses A and B.
Pulley moves up with a velocity v P and mass B is also going up at a velocity v B . Find
the velocity of mass A if:
 (a) v P = 5m/s and v B = 10m/s (b) v P = 5m/s and v B = 20m/s

Ans. [(a) 0m/s (b) 30m/s]

30. Block C shown if figure is going down at acceleration 2 m/s2. Find the accelerations of
blocks A and B.

Ans. aA = 1.5m/s2 , aB = 2m/s2

31. Figure shows a system of four pulleys with two masses A and B. Find, at an instant:
(a) Speed of block A when the block B is going up at 1 m/s and pulley Y is going up
at 2 m/s.
(b) Acceleration of block A if block B is going up at 3 m/s2 and pulley Y is going
down at 1 m/s2.
 Ans. (a) Zero, (b) 3.5m/s2

32. Block B shown in figure moves to the right with a constant velocity of 30 cm/s. Find:
(a) the velocity of block A
(b) the velocity of the point P of the string.
(c) the velocity of the point M of the string
(d) the relative velocity of the point P of the string with respect to the block A.

Ans. [(a) 20cm/s right, (b) 60cm/s right, (c) 2cm/s left, (d) 40cm/s right]

33. Find the relation among accelerations of wedge A and the rod B supported on wedge A.
Rod B is restricted to move vertically by two fixed wall corners shown in figure.

Ans. aB = aA tan 

34. Figure shows a block A constrained to slide along the incline plane of the wedge B
shown. Block A is attached with a string which passes through three ideal pulleys and
connected to the wedge B. If wedge is pulled toward right with an acceleration a1.
(a) Find the acceleration of the block with respect to wedge.
 (b) Find the acceleration of the block with respect to ground.

Ans. (a) 2 a1, (b) a1 ( 5 − 4cos )

Ans. [(a) aBA = 2a aBG = a (b) aBA = 3a aBG = a 10 + 6cos ]

36. The horizontal range of a projectile is 4 3 time its maximum height. Find the angle of
projection.
Ans. 30º

37. A man can throw a stone to a maximum distance of 125 m. For how much time will it
remain in air and up to what height will it rise?
Ans. 5.05 sec, 31.25 m

38. Prove that if the time of flight of a bullet over a horizontal range R is T seconds, then the
inclination of the direction of projection to the horizontal is
 gT 2 
−1
tan  .
 2R 

39. If R be the horizontal range of the particle and h be the greatest height, prove that the
initial velocity of the particle is
 1
   R 2   2
2 g  h +    .
   4h   

2
40. The velocity of a particle when at its greatest height is of its velocity when half at its
3
greatest height. Find the angle of projection.
Ans. 450

41. Find the greatest distance that a stone can be thrown inside a horizontal tunnel 10 m high,
with a velocity of projection 70 m/s. Find also the corresponding time of flight.
Ans. 80 6m;2.85sce

42. A particle is projected so as to graze the top of two walls, each of height 10 m, at 15 m
and 45 m, respectively from the point of projection. Find the angle of projection.
8
Ans. tan −1  
9

43. A particle just clears a wall of height b at a distance a and strikes the ground at a distance
c from the point of projection. Prove that the angle of projection is
bc
tan −1 .
a (c − a )
2V 2 a 2 (c − a) 2 + b 2c 2
and the velocity of projection V is given by =
g ab(c − a )

44. A particle is projected with a velocity u so as just pass the highest possible post a
horizontal distance d from the point of projection O. Prove that the greatest height above
u6
.
2 g (u 4 + g 2d 2 )
O attained by the particle in its flight is

45. A particle is projected with a velocity 2 ag so that it just clears two walls of equal
height a and which are at a distance 2a from each other. Show that the time of passing
a
between the walls is 2 .
g
46. A bird flies in a straight line with uniform velocity V in an upward direction making an
angle  with the horizontal. At the instant when the bird is at a height h vertically above a
boy on the ground, the boy throws a stone at an angle of elevation . Show that, whatever
be the velocity of projection, the stone cannot hit the bird unless
  2 gh  
tan    tan θ+ 
 Vcosθ  
.
   

47. A particle is thrown over a triangle from one end of a horizontal base and touching the
vertex falls on the other end of the base. If A, B be the base angles and  the angle of
projection, then prove that tan  = tan A + tan B.

48. A stone is projected with velocity u from a height h to hit a point on the ground level at a
horizontal distance R from the point of projection. Show that the angle of projection  is
given by
2u 2 2hu 2
R 2 tan 2  − tan  + R 2 − = 0.
g g
Deduce that the maximum range R' for this velocity of projection on the ground level is
u 4 2hu 2
+ ,
g2 g

49. A projectile started from O at an elevation . After t seconds, its position appeared to be
at an elevation  as seen from O. Prove that the initial velocity was
gt cos 
2sin( −  )

50. A particle is to be projected so as to just pass through three rings of diameter d, placed in
parallel vertical planes at distances a apart, with their highest points in a horizontal
straight line at a height h above the point of projection. Prove that the elevation of
projection must be
 2 hd 
tan -1  
 a 

51. Two bodies are projected from the same point with equal speeds in such directions that
they both strike the same point on a plane whose inclination is . If  be the angle of
projection of the first body with the horizontal show that the ratio of their times of fight is
sin( −  )
cos 
52. A heavy particle is projected from a point at the foot of a fixed plane, inclined at an angle
45º to the horizontal, in the vertical plane containing the line of greatest slope through the
point. If  (>45º) is the inclination to the horizontal of the initial direction of projection,
for what value of tan  will the particle strike the plane?
(i) horizontally
(ii) at right angle
Ans. (i) 2 (ii) 3

53. A projectile is fired with a velocity u at right angles to the slope, which is inclined at an
angle  with the horizontal. Derive an expression for the distance R to the point of
impact.

2u 2
Ans. tan  sec
g

54. A particle A is projected with an initial velocity of 60 m/s at an angle 30º to the
horizontal. At the same time a second particle B is projected in opposite direction with
initial speed of 50 m/s from a point at a distance of 10 m from A. If the particles collide in
air, find (a) the angle of projection  of particle B (b) time when the collision takes place
and (c) the distance of P from A. where collision occurs. (g = 10m/s2)

3
Ans. (a) sin −1   , (b) 1.09 sec, (c) 62.64 m
5

55. Two particles are projected from a point at the same instant with velocities whose
horizontal and vertical components are u1, v1 and u2, v2 respectively. Prove that the
interval between their passing through the other common point is:
 2(v1u2 − v2u1 )
g (u1 + u2 )

56. At any instant, a particle is moving with a velocity u in a direction making an angle 
with the horizon. After a certain interval t, the direction of its path makes an angle  with
gt
the horizontal direction. Prove that u cos  = . Also, prove that the
tan  − tan 
u sin 
direction of motion turns through an angle  in time and that the direction
g cos( −  )
 u 
of motion will be at right angles to the former direction in time  
 g sin  

u 2 sin 2 
57. A particle is projected with velocity u at an elevation . Prove that if h  the
2g
2 2 2
particle will be again at height h after a time u sin  − 2 gh , after being at the same
5
height the first time.

58. A stone is projected with velocity v and elevation  from a point O on level ground so as
to hit a point P on a wall whose distance from O is a, the height P above the ground level
( )
being b. Prove that 2v 2 a sin  cos − b cos 2  = ga 2 .

59. A particle is projected so as to have a range R on the horizontal plane through the point of
projection. If ,  are the possible angles of projection and t1, t2 the corresponding times
t12 − t2 2 sin( −  )
of flight, show that =
t12 + t2 2 sin( +  )

60. A gun fires a shell with initial muzzle velocity u. Show that the farthest horizontal
u
distance at which an aeroplane at height h can be hit is u 2 − 2 gh, and the gun’s
g
 u 
elevation then is tan −1  .
 u 2 − 2 gh 
 