Q. Two particles are projected simultaneously in the same vertical plane, from the same point, both with different speeds and at different angles with horizontal. The path followed by one, as seed by the other, is

A) A vertical line
B) A parabola
C) A hyperbola
D) A straight line making a constant angle $( \neq 90{^\circ})$ with the horizontal
Explanation

(d) Let ${\overrightarrow{\mathbf{u}}}_{1}$ and ${\overrightarrow{\mathbf{u}}}_{\mathbf{2\ }}$be the initial velocities of the two particles and $\theta_{1}$ and $\theta_{2}$ be their angles of projection with the horizontal
The velocities of the two particles after time $t\ $are,
${\overrightarrow{\mathbf{v}}}_{1} = \left( u_{1}\cos\theta_{1} \right)\widehat{\mathbf{i}} + (u_{1}\sin{\theta_{1} - gt})\widehat{\mathbf{j}}$ and
${\overrightarrow{\mathbf{v}}}_{1} = \left( u_{1}\cos\theta_{1} \right)\widehat{\mathbf{i}} + (u_{2}\sin{\theta_{2} - gt})\widehat{\mathbf{j}}$
Their relative velocity is ${\overrightarrow{\mathbf{v}}}_{12} = {\overrightarrow{\mathbf{v}}}_{1} - {\overrightarrow{\mathbf{v}}}_{2}$
$= (u_{1}\cos\theta_{1} - u_{2}\cos\theta_{1})\ \widehat{\mathbf{i}} + (u_{1}\sin\theta_{1} - u_{2}\sin\theta_{2})\widehat{\mathbf{j}}$
Which is a constant. So the path followed by one, as seen by the other is a straight line, making a constant angle with the horizontal

Dr. Abubacker
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker

Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist

Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.