Question

Ram was riding in a car travelling at the speed of 20 m/s towards east. Shyam was standing on the side way when the car passed him. Just before the car passed close to Shyam (when it was north-west of him); Ram had thrown a banana peel with velocity 10 m/s relative to him as ${{V}_{BR}}=(-10)\widehat{i}+(-10)\widehat{j}$. The banana peel had velocity components 10 m/s south and 10 m/s west in Ram’s frame. When Ram met Shyam later, Shyam accused Ram that Ram had thrown the banana peel at him. Explain this with the help of the velocity diagram.

Answer 1

In this question we have been asked to show the following problem using velocity diagram. Therefore, we shall represent the motion of Ram and the banana peel with respect to Shyam in the velocity diagram. It is given that Shyam accused Ram of throwing banana peels. We shall also see that the accusation made by Shyam is true or false.

Complete answer:
It is given that Ram was riding in a car travelling at the speed of 20 m/s towards east. Let the velocity of Ram with respect to shyam be ${{V}_{RS}}$. It is also given that Ram throws a banana peel from the window as shown in the figure below.

Now let the velocity of banana peel with respect to Ram be ${{V}_{BR}}$ and velocity of banana peel with respect to Shyam be ${{V}_{BS}}$. The velocity diagram can be represented as shown below.

Now Shyam accused Ram of throwing the peel at him. The accusation is correct because, when Ram threw the banana peel at Shyam the direction of banana peel with respect to shyam was towards the place where Shyam was standing.

Note:
In the given scenario Shyam was standing on the ground therefore, the velocity of banana peel with respect to Shyam can be considered as the absolute velocity of the peel. Since Ram was in a moving vehicle the velocity direction of the peel with respect to Ram was in towards south. Therefore, the accusation made by Shyam was true.